Two killed, over 20 injured in chain accident on NH-50 in Vijayanagar

Vijayanagar, : Two persons were killed and over 20 others injured in a horrific chain accident on National Highway 50 near Danapur in Hosapete taluk of Vijayanagar district on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Sujatha and Hulagappa. The accident occurred under the jurisdiction of Mariyammanahalli police station, and officers rushed to the spot to conduct an inspection.

According to police sources, the accident was triggered by an overspeeding lorry loaded with garlic that was travelling from Mariyammanahalli towards Chitradurga. In a bid to make up for lost time, the driver allegedly drove at high speed and lost control of the vehicle near the BMM factory. The lorry first rammed into a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction.

In an attempt to regain control, the driver veered off but ended up crashing into a car and later a KSRTC bus. The impact of the collision with the bus was so severe that the lorry overturned on the highway. Initial reports had suggested that four people might have died in the accident, but Superintendent of Police Jahnavi later confirmed that the death toll stood at two.

More than 20 people sustained injuries in the mishap, with five critically injured individuals shifted to a hospital in Koppal for advanced treatment. The injured include passengers from the bus as well as occupants of the other vehicles involved.

The accident led to massive traffic congestion on the busy highway, with vehicles lined up for nearly two kilometres. Police personnel worked to regulate traffic and clear the road, while a crane was deployed to remove the overturned lorry from the roadside.

Authorities have registered a case and are investigating the incident, with overspeeding cited as the primary cause of the tragic accident.