Jagalur/Bangalore, Apr 14 (DHNS) : In a head-on collision between two trucks, 11 persons including six children and three women were burnt alive, when both of them caught fire in Mandya district. 

The ghastly accident occurred at 3 am on Wednesday near Kalledevapura in Chitradurga district on NH 13. More than 50 labourers from Koudlur in Mandya district were returning to their village Bandebasapura taluk when the mishap occurred. The motorbike-laden truck was on its way to Bangalore from Hospet.

Due to the impact, the petrol tank of the truck from Chitradurga exploded and caught fire. The 11 sitting in the cabin of the truck, including six children and three women were burnt alive on the spot.

The dead have been identified as Sumatibai (28), Sakribai (26), Vaishali (6), Kousalya (4), Pandunayak (2), Leelabai (30), Rahulnayak (3), Ashabai (5), Akash (1) all from Bandebasapura tanda in Kudlagi taluk, driver P Vinod (26) of Somanahalli in Maddur taluk, Mandya and cleaner Prakash (25) of Dhammanayakanahalli in T Narasipura taluk.

The 39 injured have been admitted to the district hospital while the remaining five have been admitted to the general hospital. Fifty-five daily wagers had gone to Koudluru in Maddur taluk in Mandya district about seven months back to harvest sugar cane.

The front portion of the truck exploded and as it burnt for more than an hour, the bodies have been completely charred. The lorry transporting more than 60 TVS motorcycles has also been completely charred resulting in a loss of lakhs of rupees.

Fire fighters from the town and Chitradurga and the emergency services staff took more than an hour to douse the fire. SP Sandeep Patil and DySP Hanumantappa visited the spot and cleared the traffic.

In Bangalore, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the kin of those killed in the accident.  The CM also announced Rs 25,000 to those who suffered serious injuries in the accident and Rs 10,000 to those with minor injuries.