Daijiworld Media Network- Dharwad

Dharwad, May 6: In yet another tragic reminder of the rising toll of road accidents in Karnataka, five people — including three women — lost their lives on the spot following a gruesome head-on collision between a car and a truck near Kiresur Cross in Hubballi taluk on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Shweta (29), Anjali (26), Sandeep (26), Vittal (55), and Shashikala (40), all hailing from Sagar town in Shivamogga district. Police said the victims were en route from Shivamogga to Bagalkot when the accident occurred.

Hubballi Rural Police personnel rushed to the scene, carried out recovery operations, and shifted the bodies to a government mortuary. While initial reports confirm a frontal collision, officials are yet to determine the exact cause of the crash. Further investigation is underway.

This incident adds to a disturbing series of recent fatal accidents across Karnataka:

• May 1, Chitradurga District: Three people from Tamil Nadu — including a police department employee — were killed, and six others injured after an Innova car crashed into a road divider near Katral village. A burst tyre and suspected overspeeding are believed to have caused the accident.

• Udupi District: A 19-year-old mechanic sustained a fractured arm after a tyre exploded at a roadside shop, tossing him into the air. The chilling video of the incident went viral on social media, raising concerns over safety protocols at such establishments.

• December 3, 2024, Hassan: IPS probationer Harsh Bardhan, a native of Madhya Pradesh, died in a road mishap allegedly caused by a tyre blast while he was en route to report for duty. Bardhan, the son of an SDM, had recently joined the Karnataka cadre.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures, stricter speed regulation enforcement, and improved emergency response mechanisms in the state.