22 killed, 23 injured in road mishap

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR, NOV. 2. Twenty-two people, including six children and five women, were killed, and 23 suffered multiple injuries in a road accident on National Highway No. 13 at Hitnalli near here in the early hours on Friday.

The tragedy took place when a mini lorry carrying labourers from Surpur taluk in Gulburga District to Satar in Maharashtra, collided with a lorry carrying iron-sheets, in an attempt to overtake another vehicle.

While 18 persons died on the spot, three died on the way to hospital. Another person died at the civil hospital here. The injured persons have been admitted to the civil hospital.

The dead have been identified as Shivappa Chandappa Byadara (40), Hunumavva Shivappa Byadara (35), Thippanna Kamanatagi (35), Muttanna Thippanna Kamanatagi (2), Mallamma Thippanna Kamanatagi (3), Neelamma Basanna Lavalera (25), Dyamavva Basanna Lavalera (2), Basanna Bheemanna Lavalera (35), Mallanna Basanna Lavalera (5), Narayanaswamy Basanna Donageri (2), Hanamantha Malappa Pujari (40), Chidananda Lankeppa Dhari Mailbhavi (26), Durgappa Rayappa Gujalar (35), Devappa Rayappa Gujalar (42), Basamma Devappa Gujalar (36), Paramanna Devappa Gujalar (18), Dyamanagouda Desaigouda Malipatil (45), Bheemanagouda Desaigouda Malipatil (40), Dyamavva Bheemanagouda Malipatil (36), Devamma Hanumantharaya Gopali (6), and Mallaiah Hanumantharaya Hiregouda Goudageri (40).

Most of the victims were from Raayanapale village, while the rest were from Goudageri, Rajanakolur and Mailbhavi of Surpur taluk. The condition of Devappa Irapanna, one of the injured, is said to be critical.

In the wake of a lull in agricultural activities at their villages, the labourers, most of whom were from the Valmiki community coming under Scheduled Tribe category, accepted an offer of employment at Satar by a labour contractor known to them. They boarded the vehicle around 8-00 p.m. on Thursday but the fate of many of them was sealed shortly after midnight on the outskirts of Bijapur.

However, a quick rescue operation launched by two police constables - Mr. Bheemaraya Talkeri and Mr. A. D. Sangapur - who were on night patrol on the highway, along with the employees of a nearby dhabha, saved many lives.

``Soon after the accident, the injured started screaming for help. The survivors were trying to search for their kith and kin. It was a heartrending scene,'' Mr. Mallu Dalwai, a waiter at the dhabha, said.

The scene at the civil hospital on Friday was moving with the injured crying inconsolably. Many of the children have been orphaned due to the death of their parents in the accident.

Three children Hanumantharaya, Gangamma and Kotlappa narrowly escaped from the jaws of death with multiple injuries. Lying on the bed, they were calling out for their parents. They did not know that their parents would never come back to them.

The story of Ms. Dyavakka, still in her teens, is equally sorrowful. Her marriage was conducted just three months ago but she lost her husband (Chidananda) in the accident.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Rakesh Singh, who visited the civil hospital, said all assistance would be given to the injured persons.

Arrangements had been made to send the bodies to their respective villages.

He said he was in touch with the Deputy Commissioner, Gulbarga, and added that steps would be taken to rehabilitate those children who lost their parents in the tragedy.

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Section  : Southern States
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