Bailhongal (Belgaum dist): Five pilgrims, including three women belonging to a single family, were killed on the spot and 17 people, including six children, sustained serious injuries when the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) they were travelling by fell off the Udakeri bridge between Sutagatti and Udakeri villages in the taluk, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The deceased are Suresh Annappa Kolkar (42), Bharti Krishna Kolkar (35), Lakshmi Parasappa Kolkar (38), Shamala Nagappa Kolkar (55), Raju Mageri (25), all residents of Halashi village in Khanapur taluk.
Among the 17 people injured, Sachin Kolkar, Mallesh Kolkar, Rajaram Patil (driver), Gangappa Kolkar, Kalpana Kolkar, Sandeep Kolkar, Dyamappa Kolkar, Sainath Kolkar, Mallappa Kolkar, Sushmita Kolkar and Suchitra Kolkar, all residents of Halasi, are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. The injured were rushed to the government hospital in Bailhongal and were later referred to the district hospital.
Three persons, including Sandeep Kolkar and Kalpana Kolkar (who have sustained grievous injuries), were shifted to KLES Hospital.
A total of five people are undergoing treatment at a private hospital where the condition of one of the injured is said to be critical. All the travellers in the vehicle were close relatives. They had been on a pilgrimage to the Renuka Yallamma temple at Savadatti and the accident occurred while they were returning home.
According to police, a total of 22 people were travelling in the vehicle. Overspeeding and drowsiness of the driver are said to have caused the accident.
Driver Rajaram Patil, who is undergoing treatment at the district hospital, said the bright headlights of an approaching truck blinded him, following which he lost control over the vehicle. The Dodwad police have registered a case.
Two killed as train hits car in Hubli
Hubli: Two men were killed on the spot and one seriously injured when the multi-utility vehicle by which they were travelling was hit by a train at an unmanned level crossing near Unkal on the outskirts of Hubli on Wednesday.
The deceased have been identified as Akbar Gulbarga, 44, and his brother Abbas Ali Gulbarga, 27, from Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district. Bashir Bagewadi, 40, a native of Bantikatta in Old Hubli, was injured and admitted to a private hospital near Dharwad.
The vehicle was reportedly brought to a showroom in Hubli for servicing and taken to Srinagar Cross – Maradagi Road for a test drive
While returning to the showroom, the MUV was hit by the Dadar-Tirunelveli Chalukya Express (Train No 11021) at the unmanned level crossing (Gate No 287). Bashir Bagewadi is the technician of the showroom. A case has been registered at the Railway Police Station.
