34 people crushed to death as lorry rolls down into ditch

Hassan, May 29 (UNI) At least 34 people, mostly women and children, were killed and another 15 injured when a lorry carrying more than 100 people belonging to a marriage party rolled over and fell into a 50-foot deep ditch near Agrahara village in Hassan district today.

The tragedy occurred when the lorry driver tried to reverse the vehicle on the narrow tank bund road after he saw a low lying high tension line across the road.

Confirming 34 deaths, Deputy Commissioner Anjum Parvez, speaking to UNI from the spot of the accident, said the lorry skidded down and rolling over three times before falling into the 5-foot deep ditch on the edge of the Agrahara lake.

Five among the injured were in serious condition. They were admitted to Hassan General hospital, the DC said.

The dead included about 25 women and children.

Many of the victims were crushed to death as the lorry rolled down with great force while others died due to the impact of the accident.

The lorry was carrying the marriage party for a feast after the marriage ceremony was celebrated yesterday. The victims belonged to Basavanahalli Koppal village and they were proceeding to Agrahara village in Arakalagud taluk under Konanur police limits.

SP Sharat Chandra and a relief team, including doctors and para medical, had rushed to the spot from Hassan with medical assistance.

UNI MV RS SKB1658