Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 6: After a Maruti Omni van in which a group of pilgrims were returning went out of control of the driver and rolled down the roadside gorge, five persons suffered serious injuries. The incident occurred near Nekkaraje near Kemmara, Uppinangady.

The seriously injured people have been identified as Seetaram (50) from Biliyoor near Perne, who was driving the vehicle, Rishita (10), Geeta (35), Kamala (75), and Yashoda (54), of the same village. The group had visited Subrahmanya on Wednesday, and was returning on Thursday when the accident happened.

The road has been dug near Nekkaraje. The driver of the vehicle noticed the digging at the spot at around 12 pm on Thursday at the last minute, and tried to control the speed of the vehicle. In the bargain, he lost control, after which the van fell down the roadside gorge.

Staff manning 108 ambulance rushed to the spot upon learning about the accident, brought the injured persons out of the vehicle, and took them to a private hospital at Mangaluru.