Bangalore: 9 killed as truck falls into ditch

Bangalore: Nine people were killed and 10 others injured after a Tata Ace mini truck they were travelling in fell into a ditch after the driver lost control over the vehicle. The accident occurred at Kamsagara village near Sathanur in Kanakapura taluk on the outskirts of the city on Sunday evening. Though official sources said only nine were killed, sources said two others, who were shifted to a private hospital, died later.

According to Ramnagar SP Anupam Agrawal, the injured have been admitted to Victoria Hospital, NIMHANS, Kanakapura Government Hospital and other private hospitals. All the victims were residents of Gollarahatti near Nagadevanahalli in Kengeri. According to the police, 19 people were travelling in the mini truck. They had gone to Kabbalamma temple in Sathanur and were on their way back to the city.

The driver, Umesh, was reportedly driving fast when the vehicle was crossing a narrow bridge in Kamsagara. When Umesh saw a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, he tried to avoid it. In the process, he lost control over the vehicle. The mini truck ran over the parapet wall and fell into the 15-footdeep ditch, the police said. “Some people were killed on the spot while some others died on the way to hospitals. It is unclear whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The vehicle is meant for transportation of goods and there is no permission to carry people in it. It was also over-crowded,” they said.

The deceased have been identified as Eranna, his wife Gangamma, Chikkathayamma, Raju, Manju, Chikkaraju, Elagappa, Bala Chikkaiah and Chikkanna. Mahesh, a first B Com student at Magadi Government College, who miraculously escaped with minor injuries, said they had left home around 4.30 am. They were on their way to Bangalore via Channapatna when the tragedy occurred.

“Around 25 people had gone to Kabbalamma Temple and sacrificed two sheep there to fulfil a vow by Eranna. Then we left Sathanur in the evening. A few went in some other vehicles and we boarded the mini truck. Around 6 pm, the vehicle suddenly toppled and fell into the ditch. I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness after 10 minutes, there were so many people around me and they gave me water. I came to know that Eranna had died on the spot and others were taken to hospitals,” he said.

“The truck belonged to Raju and Umesh was driving it. He consumed alcohol before lunch, but his driving seemed normal. It was bad luck that we lost so many lives,” Mahesh added.

The Sathanur police have registered a case.