Yellapura: 10 Killed As Fruit Lorry Falls Into Valley In Karnataka's Uttara Kannada; 4 More Killed In Raichur

The deceased fruit vendors were going to Yellapura fair in the lorry which veered into the valley while trying to offer carriageway for another vehicle.

Yellapura/Raichur:At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in two separate accidents in Karnataka's Utttara Kannada and Raichur districts, on Wednesday. The government announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakhs to the kin of the deceased.

In Yellapura, a truck carrying fruits and vegetables fell into a 50-metre-deep gorge in at Arabail Ghat, during the wee hours on Wednesday.

The incident occurred near the Kageri petrol station in Yellapur at around 5.30 am when the lorry was transporting the vegetables to a market here in the district.

More than 40 traders including vegetables and fruit vendors were travelling with their goods aboard the truck from Savanuru in Haveri district and were heading to Kumta market in Uttara Kannada district. The fruit vendors were heading to Yellapura fair to sell fruits when the accident occurred on the Savanur-Hubballi road, the Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police M Narayana said.

"Around 5.30 am, the truck driver in a bid to give side to another vehicle went to the extreme left and fell into an about 50 metres deep valley," the official said.

The deceased were identified as Fayaz Imam Saab Jamkhandi (45), Wasim Virullah Mudageri (35), Ijaz Mustaka Mulla (20), Sadiq Bhasha Farash (30), Ghulam Hussain Jawali (40), Imtiaz Mamajafar Mulakeri (36), Alpaaz Jafar Mandakki (25), Jilani Abdul Jakhati (25) and Aslam Babuli Benny (24).

On information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi, he said adding that no protection wall was present on the road at the accident site.

"Eight persons were killed on the spot and two got critical injuries. The injured have been shifted to the KIMS Hospital in Hubballi," the official said.

4 Killed In Raichur

In Raichur, four persons were killed in another accident after their vehicle overturned. The deceased quartet includes three students while 10 others who were travelling with them sustained injuries. The accident occurred when the vehicle was passing near Araginamara Camp in Sindhanur taluk in Raichur district.

It took place during the small hours of Wednesday, according to police.

They said the vehicle was carrying students of Mantralayam Sanskrit Pathshala on a pilgrimage to Hampi to offer prayers at Narahari Temple when the accident took place. The deceased were identified as Aryavardhan (18), Sucheendra (22) and Abhilash (20), all three students of the school. Shiva, driver of the vehicle, had died in the impact.

CM announces Rs 3 lakh compensation

Expressing shock over the two road accidents that claimed 14 lives, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. The CM also assured that the government will bear the hospital expenditure of those injured in both the accidents.

He also appealed to drivers to be cautious while driving saying that the high speed and reckless driving are the most common causes for road accidents.