Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Nov 18: In a collision between a private bus and a truck in the early hours of Saturday November 17 on national highway near Koliwad Cross, Annigeri in the district, six elderly citizens lost their lives. 22 others suffered injuries of various degrees.

All those who lost lives in this accident were from Mumbai. They have been identified as Dinakar Vithobha Mhatre (78), Vishwanath Vithoba Mhatre (80), Ramesh Jayapal (70), Alka Sumedha Jemshedkar (60), Suchitra Chandrakanth Rahull (50) and Lahu Keluskar (65).

All the injured were admitted into Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences Hubballi. Two among them are stated to be in critical condition. They are being taken to Mumbai as they were found to be in need of advanced methods of treatment.

A group of close relatives from Mumbai had begun their tour of Karnataka on Monday last. They had booked a Bengaluru-based private travel agency's bus for the tour. After covering places like Horanadu, Belur - Halebeedu, Dharmasthala and other places, the entourage had begun its onward journey to Hampi from Hubballi when misfortune struck.

A lorry that was bound for Koppal from Mangaluru had developed problems and was parked on the left side of the road. The driver of the bus carrying tourists, it is said, suddenly turned the vehicle to the right to avoid hitting the parked lorry when the bus collided head-on with a lorry coming from opposite direction. The bus which overturned and fell to the right side of the road, was badly mangled in the accident.