A tragic road accident near the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka resulted in one fatality and left multiple devotees seriously injured on Tuesday morning. The collision involved a private bus and a tractor carrying pilgrims.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The incident occurred near the second bridge built across the Tungabhadra River, located between Munirabad and the TB dam. According to preliminary reports, a private bus traveling from Bengaluru to Afzalpur in Kalaburagi allegedly rammed into the rear of a tractor. The tractor was carrying a group of devotees from Honnerahalli village in Ballari district's Harapanahalli taluk. They were on their way to Huligi in Koppal taluk for the darshan of Sri Huligemma Devi.
The impact of the crash was severe. The tractor driver, identified as Kenchappa, died on the spot. The tractor itself was completely crushed in the collision. Many of the devotees aboard suffered serious injuries, with several reported to be in critical condition immediately after the accident.
Rescue and Hospitalization Efforts
Local residents rushed to the scene upon learning of the crash and assisted in rescuing and shifting the injured victims. Most of the injured were women and children, as confirmed by hospital sources. The injured were promptly admitted to the Munirabad Government Hospital and the Koppal District Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
A police team, led by Munirabad Police Sub-Inspector Sunil, reached the accident spot swiftly. To clear the national highway and restore traffic, which had been held up for a considerable time, the damaged tractor and bus were removed using a crane.
Aftermath and Investigation
The accident has cast a shadow over the region, highlighting road safety concerns on the busy highway. While traffic flow has been restored, the police investigation into the exact cause of the rear-end collision is ongoing. The community mourns the loss of Kenchappa and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees.
