Kalambella Accident: 9 killed, 14 injured after vehicle hits truck in Karnataka

Nine people were killed and fourteen others were injured when the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by a truck and was overturned because of the force of it in Tumakuru district, Karnataka early on Thursday. The deceased included two children and four women, according to a police source.

The vehicle, a Trax Cruiser was mangled from the impact of the crash. First responders also struggled to pull out those injured from the vehicle.

The accident had occurred at around 4am, around 90km from Bengaluru. It had happened on National Highway 48. The vehicle had 23 people in total and was heading towards Bengaluru from Maanvi in Raichur district.


As per police sources, the passengers were all daily laborer's and were traveling to Bengaluru in search of employment when the accident occurred.

According to the preliminary investigation by the police, the driver was allegedly speeding in a bid to overtake another vehicle and he ended up rear-ending into a truck which was moving ahead and eventually lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle also hit the road median and topped a few times before coming to a halt.

The driver of the vehicles, identified as Krishnappa died on the spot. A few other passengers were thrown out of the vehicle due to the impact of the crash, while some got crushed in the vehicle.

The injured were immediately shifted to different hospitals, including the Government Hospital in Tumakuru. The condition of four injured people was critical, police said quoting hospital authorities.

Meanwhile, investigations are on to find out what possibly went wrong.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the accident.



President Droupadi Murmu in a tweet said, "The loss of lives, including that of children and women, in a road accident in Tumakuru, Karnakata is extremely unfortunate. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."



Noting that it is unfortunate that those who had come to earn their living have lost their lives, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also thanked the PM for announcing ex-gratia, and said that the next of kin will also receive Rs 5 lakh from the state government.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who is also Tumakuru district in-charge, in a statement said he has spoken to the district Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and had instructed them to see to it that necessary treatment is provided to the injured.