Vijayapura, Mar 28 (DHNS): Six people, including a two-year-old girl and five labourers, were killed when the tractor in which they were travelling was hit from behind by a lorry at Horti near here in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The accident occurred at around 12.45 am. Fifteen people were injured in the accident.

The victims were labourers at the Nandi sugar factory. All of them belong to Maharashtra. They were returning home as the sugarcane crushing work had come to a halt. The lorry was travelling in the same direction towards Solapur in Maharashtra.

The deceased are Mustakim Patru Baig, 30, Mumtaz Mehboob Baig, 32, Mairoon Hakim Baig, 32, of Upali village in Beed district; Bikaji Rohidas Damali, 40, and Vimala Rohidas Damali, 65, of Jodgaon village in the same district and Arohi Rahul Dale, 2, of Manoli village in Manavata taluk in Parbhani district of Maharashtra.

Lorry driver Nasir Baig, 27, had a miraculous escape, while the cleaner was injured in the accident. The lorry driver abandoned the vehicle and fled soon after the accident. All the injured have been admitted to the Vijayapura district hospital for treatment.