22 dead as van overturns in Belgaum

In the second horrific accident involving a bus in north Karnataka in three days, 22 persons including eight children died in Belgaum district on Saturday, when a speeding goods vehicle toppled.

The accident took place at Halaki cross in Saundati in the early hours of the day, just two days after a Volvo bus caught fire at Haveri, killing seven and injuring over 40.

The canter, carrying over 50 labourers headed for Sawantwadi in Maharashtra.  

Thirty-two injured persons have been admitted to government and private hospitals in Belgaum, Murgod, Bailhongal. It is learnt that condition of three is serious. Residents of Halaki village said most of victims died of suffocation.

“I heard sound of the vehicle ramming something and the next moment we were out on the road,” said a woman recovering at government hospital in Bailhongal.

“Most of the dead were stuck under the large amount of luggage including bags of foodgrains,” said a resident of Halaki.

Belgaum SP Chandragupta, who visited the spot, said families of wage labourers from Lambani tandas at Uppaldinni, IB, Managod, Vana Cross, Jamalapur and Toladinni of Surpur taluk in Yadgir District were traveling to Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. He said driver Gopilal Narayan Rathod, 25, was arrested.

The dead are Balachandra Rathod, 40, Anasuyabai Balachandra Rathod, 30, Ramu Rathod, 13, Pappi Gopal Rathod, 40, Boli Ramappa Chavan, 9, Sindhu Gopal Chavan, 20, Susheelabai Guru Chavan, 30, Saravva Ravi Chavan, 25, Satabai Ramappa Chavan, 20, Pandu Somappa Chavan, 28, Laxmibai Amaresh Vaddar, 20, Susheela Balappa Rathod, 20, Ramappa Laxmappa Chavan, 30, Jyotibai Gopilal Chavan, 28, Mali Somappa Rathod, 4, Susheela Gopal Rathod, 12, Bhantesh Gurappa Chavan, 5, Babala Gurappa Chavan, 2, Shrutibai Ramappa Rathod, 20, Parashu Balappa Vaddar, 6, Shivaraj Peelappa Chavan, 4 and Nayana, 5.