Five workers killed as tempo overturns near Udupi; seven others critically injured

Udupi : In a tragic road accident, five migrant workers were killed and seven others sustained serious injuries after a tempo carrying decoration materials overturned near Kotalakatte in Kaup of Udupi district on Saturday.

The accident has thrown the region into deep grief as most of the victims were young labourers who had travelled from North and Northeast India for work. According to the preliminary investigation by police, the tempo was transporting decoration equipment from Kapu Majuru to Malpe for an event.

A total of 12 workers were travelling in the vehicle along with heavy iron equipment. While moving along the national highway, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into the median divider and topple onto the service road.

The impact was severe, and heavy iron structures being transported in the tempo fell on the workers, crushing several of them. Five labourers died on the spot due to suffocation and massive injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Kamal and Semaresh from West Bengal, Pappu Ravi Das and Harish from Assam, and Gapunath from Tripura. All were part of a Mysuru-based decoration workforce and had been deployed for event-related work in the coastal district.

Two of the workers died immediately at the scene, while three others succumbed to injuries after being shifted to hospitals. The remaining seven passengers suffered multiple injuries and were rushed to various private hospitals in Udupi and Manipal for emergency treatment.

The injured have been identified as Ganesh Bahadoor Roy (36), Prabas Roy (26), Gopal Bhowmik (16), Ranjith Amin (33), Subrado, and Suraj Dolai, among others, police said.

Following the accident, Kaup police arrived at the site and began an investigation. Officers are probing whether the tempo was overloaded and whether driver negligence or mechanical failure led to the mishap. Police also examined the condition of the vehicle and collected statements from eyewitnesses.

Authorities stated that further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over Kotalakatte and surrounding villages.

Local residents assisted police and emergency responders in shifting the injured to hospitals. Families of the deceased are being contacted, and arrangements for post-mortem procedures have been initiated.

The fatal mishap has once again raised concerns about the unsafe transportation of workers and materials on highways, particularly during event-related logistics.

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