Yadgir road accident: death toll rises to 9 as toddler succumbs; entire family wiped out
Raichur : The death toll in the horrific road accident involving a private bus and a car near Yadgir has climbed to nine, after another injured victim succumbed during treatment, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The tragedy has devastated a family from Sirwar town in Raichur district, where several members of the household of Town Panchayat member Krishna Nayak (52) were among the victims.
With the latest update, two more deaths have been confirmed, including Krishna Nayak’s niece Shashikala (30) and her one-and-a-half-year-old son Chandan. Earlier, multiple family members had already died on the spot in the collision.
Victims identified
Those who lost their lives in the crash include Krishna Nayak, his wife Ananthakala (45), daughter Nisarga (30), son-in-law Sharanappa (36), and grandchildren Siddhartha (3), Advika (5), and Sreenidhi (1.6 years). The accident also claimed the lives of Shashikala and her son Chandan, bringing the total death toll to nine.
Only one child from the family, five-year-old Virat—the elder son of Shashikala—is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kalaburagi. Doctors have said his condition remains under close observation.
What happened
The fatal crash occurred when the family’s car collided with a private bus on the Yadgir highway stretch. The impact of the collision was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, leaving no time for occupants to escape.
Police said Krishna Nayak and his family were travelling together when the accident took place. Emergency teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals, but most victims were declared dead on arrival or during treatment.
Final moments revealed
Family members have been left shattered by the suddenness of the tragedy. Relatives recalled that Krishna Nayak had spoken on the phone just minutes before the accident.
“He had spoken to Basavaraj only two minutes before the crash. They were discussing a family function. He said he would come later and talk after reaching,” said relative Geetha, breaking down while recalling the incident.
The emotional account has added to the grief of the bereaved family, who are struggling to come to terms with the scale of the loss.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident, including possible overspeeding or driver negligence. The bodies have been handed over to the families after post-mortem examinations.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about road safety on highways in northern Karnataka, with locals demanding stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved monitoring of heavy vehicle movement to prevent such devastating tragedies in the future.
