Ten persons, including four children, were killed and 36 injured when a truck rammed into a tractor carrying a marriage party in Gadag district on Wednesday.
The accident occurred on Mevundi-Dambal Road in Mundaragi taluk of the district. The marriage party had left Dambal and were on their way to the mass marriage being held at Kandagallpura in Huvin Hadagali taluk of Bellary district. On colliding with the truck, the tractor overturned trapping the passengers inside. An earthmover was used to rescue them.
While eight persons, including four children of two families were killed on the spot, two others died on their way to hospital.
The deceased have been identified as siblings Prashanth Tayappa Kengar (6) and Prajawal Tayappa Kengar (1) of Abbigeri village in Ron taluk; Sanajana Gudadappa Sunkammanavar (5) and Sudip Gudadappan Sunkammanavar (6) of Dambal village in Mundaragi taluk; Renuka Holalappa Hadimani (22), Renuka Ningappa Hadimani (26) and Muttappa Mallappa Hadimani (26) of Nagasamudra village of Gadag taluk; Revanappa Ramappa Yallakkanavar (25), a resident of Gadag; and Annapurna Shankrappa Pujar (35) and Hanamappa Kenchappa Pujar (30) of Mangaluru in Yalburga taluk of Koppal district. \
Superintendent of Police of Gadag district, Sharanappa S.D., told The Hindu that of those injured in the accident, 17 who required additional treatment were shifted to KIMS Hospital, Hubli. The rest are being treated at the district hospital in Gadag, he said.
While the driver of the tractor has been injured, the driver of the truck is absconding. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and district-in-charge H.K. Patil visited the district hospital in Gadag.