The Hindu

HASSAN, May 30: Forty persons died on the spot and 100 were injured when the lorry by which they were travelling plunged into a coconut grove, 50 ft down, near Arakalgud in Hassan district on Thursday.

The injured have been shifted to government hospitals at Konanur and Arakalgud, and the seriously injured to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences.

On Wednesday, Anuradha, daughter of Range Gowda of Basavanahalli Koppalu in Arakalgud taluk, married Soma, son of Subbe Gowda of Ramanathapura Agrahara, also in Arakalgud. The accident occurred while the bride’s party was on its way to the groom’s place to attend a feast, according to Superintendent of Police K.V. Sharatchandra. The distance between Basavanahalli Koppalu and Ramanathapura Agrahara is about 30 km.

When the lorry was passing by the Agrahara tank, people in the vehicle noticed a live high tension wire hanging loosely and almost touching the ground. They shouted at the driver to stop the vehicle. The driver who got confused stopped the lorry and while reversing lost control over it. The lorry overturned and fell into the coconut grove.

Nagaraj, one of the injured undergoing treatment at Konanur government hospital, said that many of the victims were crushed under the lorry. He said the accident occurred at about 1 p.m. when they were almost nearing Agrahara. The police were informed of the accident by 2 p.m. People from nearby villages first took the injured persons to Konanur hospital, about 10 km and from the accident spot, and from there to the Arakalgud Government Hospital. Mr. Sharatchandra said he got news about the accident at 2 p.m. and rushed to the spot with three ambulances.

Ten doctors from Hassan and a rescue team also left for the spot immediately. Medical teams from Holenarsipur and Ramanathapura have rushed to Konanur and Arakalgudu.