Five people traveling from Haveri district died and four others were injured early on Saturday after a goods truck crossed the central district on a national highway in Koppal district and collided head-on with their truck, police said.
The accident occurred around 1.30 am on National Highway 63 near Bhanapur in Kokanur taluk. According to police, the victims were traveling in an Omni truck from Kapar village in Rathihalli taluk to Sri Raghavendra Swami Mutt via Koppal when the truck veered through the barricade into the opposite road.
Koppal Police Superintendent Dr Ram L. Arasidhi said the deceased have been identified as Kinshama Palkhai, 35, Amutha Kotiyal, 25, Ramesh Palari, 45, Chinmayi, 16, and Praveen Shivaji Palkhai. All of them are residents of Kabar village in Haveri district.
“Praveen and Kinshama Palkai were husband and wife, while Chinmayi was their son. Among the injured, Samarth Yadav is in critical condition and has been shifted to a hospital in Ballari for advanced treatment. “The victims were traveling from their native village to Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt via Koppal to seek the blessings of Sri Raghavendra Swamy when the accident occurred near Bhanapur,” Dr Arasidhi told reporters.
The injured were identified as Samarth, Sonali, Praveen Kotial and Pranav, all under 40 years of age. They were taken to the hospital and are undergoing treatment.
Police said the collision crushed the Omni and threw its occupants onto the road. Four people died instantly, while another died of his wounds in hospital.
Personnel from Kokanur Police Station, with the help of local residents and ambulance staff, reached the spot after receiving information about the collision. The injured were taken to Koppal District Hospital, while the bodies of the dead were sent for autopsy.
A case has been registered against the truck driver, Ramesh (40 years old). Investigators said preliminary results indicate that the truck that crossed the barrier was the main cause of the collision. They also examine whether excessive speed, loss of control, driver fatigue, or other factors contributed to the accident.
The deaths have left the village of Kabar in mourning, with relatives and residents urging the district administration to provide compensation and assistance to the affected families.
Former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai said in a post on X that he was deeply shocked by the killing and injury of devotees from Haveri district who were traveling for darshan of the deity. He urged the state government to provide adequate compensation to the bereaved families while ensuring the best possible medical treatment for those receiving care.
