Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Feb 23: A tipper truck that was carrying labourers for road asphalting work tumbled at Puttige Padav near here on Tuesday, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to 17 others. The deceased has been identified as Renuka (35) from Badami in Bagalkot district.

The injured have been admitted into various hospitals in Moodbidri and Mangalore. Sutaro, Akhter, Saroja, Lakshmi and Vikas, who suffered grave injuries, were rushed to Mangalore, while the others are being treated in Alva’s Hospital here. Three labourers escaped with minor nicks and cuts.

The labourers were being taken in a tipper by a contractor undertaking asphalting work at Jainpete here from Kinnigoly, when the mishap occurred. Reportedly, the vehicle, while overtaking an auto rickshaw, went out of control of the driver, and fell on its side. Renuka, who was seriously injured, died while being taken to the hospital. The rickshaw too suffered damages as the tipper scraped through its right side before falling on the right side of the road. The leg of a cow grazing nearby was severed, as the tipper fell on it in this accident.

It is learnt that Renuka, who has been working here since the last some years as a road worker, had lost her husband in an accident two years back. Her three children all aged less than six years, have been orphaned with her death.