Four killed, six hurt as auto rams bus in Belthangady

Four members of a family, including a two-year-old boy, were killed and six were injured when an autorickshaw by which they were travelling collided with a minibus near Laila Bridge, Belthangady taluk, on Sunday.

Around 2.30 p.m., the wide-bodied autorickshaw, with nine people, was going towards Belthangady town from Ujire when the driver tried to overtake a stationary lorry in the two-lane road.

In the process, the autorickshaw collided with the minibus, carrying nearly 20 members from Chikmagalur district who were on a pilgrimage tour.

While Hasainar (30) and Mohammad Safan (2) died on the spot, Nazir (13) and Zainadi (28) died in a hospital in Mangalore, said the Belthangady police. Nabisa (55), Zohara, (40), Mariamma (31), Zainab (30), Dilshad (12), and Sharief (40), the autorickshaw driver, were identified as being among the injured.

All the passengers are from Mundur village in Belthangady taluk. Harshit (13) and Prajwal (14), who were on the bus, suffered minor injuries.

Chetan, the driver of the bus, fled after the accident. A case has been registered.