Chitradurga, May 1 (DHNS): As many as 10 persons including nine girls returning from a job interview in Bengaluru, were killed after the multiutility vehicle they were travelling rammed a KSRTC bus near Heggere in Challakere taluk in the early hours of Saturday.

According to police, all the nine girls were staying at BCM hostel in Siruguppa of Ballari district and had been to Bengaluru to attend interview at a private company. Pradeep, a computer teacher of Siruguppa, had led the girls for the interview. The accident took place while they were returning to Siruguppa from Bengaluru.

The victims were travelling in a Land Cruiser which had 15 passengers.

The driver of the Cruiser, in his attempt to overtake a private bus, rammed the KSRTC bus coming in the opposite direction and veered to the left. A speeding bus which was coming right behind, hit the Cruiser, virtually crushing the passengers.

While 7 passengers were killed on the spot, one each succumbed to injuries at Challakere, Chitradurga and Davangere hospitals.

The deceased have been identified as Shanthi, Sarita, Bharathi, Shruthi, Jyothi (all 20 years), Sudha Harshita, Jayashree, Kavya (all 21) and Chandregowda, the driver of the Cruiser.

A seriously injured Pradeep is being treated at a hospital in Davangere. The other injured - Nagarathna, Renuka, Sunita and Huligemma - are being treated at district hospital in Chitradurga.

Additional Superintendent of Police K Parashuram and other senior police officers visited the spot. A case has been registered at Challakere police station.