5 killed, 30 hurt as van falls down valley in Kolhapur

Kolhapur, Jan 21 (UNI) Five persons, including a five-year-old girl, were killed and 30 others injured when a van fell down a 40-foot valley near Wadi-Ratnagiri, about 15 km from here, today.

The van was carrying tourists from three villages in Nashik district and was on its way to Kolhapur after visiting the Jyotiba Temple. One of the tyres of the van burst following which the van tumbled down the valley, police said.

Four of the deceased have been identified as Archana Sahebrao Divate (23), Pankaj Rambhau Ganore (25), Janabai Balasaheb Rajdev (45) and Madhuri Dileep Medane (5). The identity of the fifth victim has not yet been established.

All the injured have been admitted to the Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Civil Hospital here, where the condition of four of them is reported to be critical, sources said.

One of the injured informed that they had visited Pandharpur in Solapur district yesterday and had reached Wadi-Ratnagiri in the evening. Today, they had offered prayers at the Jyotiba temple and were returning back when the accident occurred.

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