Eight persons, including three children, were killed and 12 others were injured in an accident near Dharwad in north Karnataka early on May 21.
As per the initial report by Superintendent of Police P. Krishnakant, who visited the spot, seven persons died and six were injured. However, police later learnt that 20 persons, including children, were travelling in the multi-utility vehicle (MUV), which met with an accident near Baada village. Thirteen persons were shifted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. One of the injured persons succumbed to injuries, taking the tally to eight.
All those in the MUV were from Benakanakatti village. They were returning from a family function at Mansur village on May 20 night.
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The driver of the MUV reportedly lost control of the vehicle and hit a roadside tree. The vehicle overturned, killing four persons on the spot. The driver sustained severe injuries. The injured persons were shifted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi.
The victims were from Benakanakatti, Gundenakatti, Nigadi, Dodawad, Morab, and Govanakoppa villages. They were returning from a pre-wedding function (betrothal ceremony) of the Dasanakoppa family at Mansur village on May 20 night.
According to the survivors, the driver was making his third trip to drop off guests to their villages from Mansur mutt where the function had been organised. They were supposed to return to the mutt on May 21 morning to take part in the marriage.
While four persons died on the spot, three others breathed their last on the way to a hospital. Mr. Krishnakant had given the names of the victims as Ananya, 14, Harish, 13, Shilpa, 34, Nilavva, 40, Madhushree, 20, Maheshwar, 11, and Shambhulingaiah, 35. Later in the day, Chennavva Bankapur, 45, succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
Children battling for life
The condition of three children is said to be worrisome. They have been kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit. Eight others are said to be out of danger.
Minister visits
Minister for Handloom and Textiles Shankar Patil Munenakoppa visited KIMS Hospital and enquired about the health of the survivors. He consoled family members of the deceased.
As the bodies were kept at the KIMS mortuary, a large number of people had gathered there forcing deployment of a police contingent as a precautionary measure. The family members of the deceased were inconsolable.
Venue was shifted
Mahadevi Hulmani, one of the survivors, considered herself fortunate to have got away with an injury on her elbow. “It all happened in a fraction of a second. Even before we could realise what was happening, our vehicle had hit a tree and a minute later, there were dead bodies around,” she recalled.
Another survivor Manjula Marigoudar said, “It was drizzling and I had just closed my eyes listening to the music. The vehicle wavered. The next moment, it hit something hard and overturned,” she recalled.
According to the relatives, the function was actually supposed to be held in the groom’s residence at Benakanakatti.
“However, owing to rain over the last two days, the family decided to shift the function to Mansur mutt. If the function was held in the village, so many people would not have lost their lives. But who can change fate,” said Basavaraj Bolashetty, a a grief-stricken relative from Nigadi village.
A pall of gloom has descended on Nigadi, Benakanakatti, and Dodawad villages where the funerals of the deceased took place on May 21 afternoon.
The Dharwad Rural police have registered a case.
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