Mangalore: Eight Killed in Tempo Accident at Jokatte, Many Injured

Pics: Brijesh Garodi / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Update: 4.45 pm

Mangalore, May 6: Eight people were killed in an accident that occured at Doddekere in Jokatte here on Sunday May 6 afternoon. Initial reports had claimed seven deaths, but later another injured died in the hospital.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Chandan Kumar and Chandru, both of whom passed away in AJ Hospital where all the injured had been admitted.

Those injured have been identified as Safayan (19), Abhishek (18), Indrajit (25), Shaji (30), Karthik Maranaa (25), Gurucharan (35), Karaneshwar Nair (44), Sheikh Imran (19), Poojananda Paida (25), Hemanth (21) and Chandalal (24).

Panambur circle inspector Valentine D'Souza told Daijiworld that the process to identify the rest of the deceased is on.

The accident occured at around 2 pm when the driver of a tempo lost control and the vehicle rolled over the side of the road and fell into a gorge. It is said that the driver was speeding, and before falling into the 10-ft gorge, the tempo rolled over three times.

Sources said that they were all labourers who were on their way to MSEZ site. The vehicle is Tempo Trax Kargo King, which is meant for transporting goods, was being allegedly used by the MSEZ to carry labourers to the site. The MSEZ is home to around 25,000 labourers.

Around 15 labourers were injured and admitted to AJ hospital. Of them, two were said to be critical.

There were around 25 labourers in all, hailing from north India, mainly from UP, Punjab and Bihar.

Angered by the incident, the locals pelted stones at another MSEZ Tempo Trax which was also carrying labourers and passing by Jokatte.

Panambur police have rushed to the spot.