Hubballi, Karnataka: Eight people were killed and 25 others injured following a head-on collision between a truck and a bus in Karnataka’s Hubballi-Dharwad district on Tuesday.
The accident occurred at 12.45am on the outskirts of Hubballi near Tarihal on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway, police said.
Of the eight victims who were travelling in the bus, six died on the spot and two succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
Authorities said that the death toll might increase as many of the injured, who have been admitted to the KIMS hospital in Hubballi, are critical.
Negligence of bus driver?
The deceased were identified as Babasa Chougale (59), Nagaraj Achar (56), Ataulla Khan (40), Mastan, Mohammad Dayan Baig (17), Akshay Davar (28), Akeef (40) and Afaaq (41).
Police explained that most of the victims were travelling to Bengaluru from Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
According to the police, the bus belonged to National Travels owned by a Congress politician in Karnataka.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident had taken place due to the alleged negligence of bus driver while overtaking a tractor.
Hubballi KIMS director Dr. Ramalingappa said the condition of 5 to 6 injured persons is critical. The persons who escaped with minor injuries were returning to Maharashtra, he said.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy expressing shock has urged the ruling BJP to take steps to prevent accidents.
“The stretch of road from Kolhapur to Hubballi is repeatedly witnessing accidents. The road has become the highway of deaths,” he said.
Hubballi North Traffic police have taken up the investigation.
