10 killed in two road accidents in Karnataka

Raichur (Karnataka), May 20 (IANS) Ten persons, including three children, were killed in two separate road accidents in Karnataka's Raichur district during the last 24 hours, said police on Saturday.

"In the first incident, five died when the vehicle in which they were travelling to Arakare toppled at Devadurga on Saturday afternoon," Raichur Additional Superintendent of Police B.J. Lokesh told IANS on phone.

Devadurga is about 480 km from Bengaluru in the state's north.

"The five victims, reported to be labourers, were identified as Muththanna, Panduranga, Basavaraj, Mallaiah and Ayappa, aged between 28 and 45 years," said Lokesh.

Driver Srisailaswamy escaped from the accident spot and police have set up a special team to nab him.

In another accident on Friday night, five members of a family, including three children, were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a speeding truck at Sindhanur in the same district, said police.

"The head-on collision occurred when the victims were going towards Siriguppa from Gangavathy in Koppal district and the truck was heading towards Sindhanur from Siriguppa," Sindhanur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sridhar Maligire told IANS.

Sindhanur is about 400 km from Bengaluru.

The victims were identified as Mohammed Hussain, 35, Moulana, 30, Sabira, 14, Gulabi, 5, and Mehaboob, 3.

According to Sindhanur Police Inspector Nagaraj Meka, three died at the spot and two in the nearby hospital after they were admitted for emergency care.

"Preliminary investigation indicated that Hussain, who was driving the car, rammed the truck head-on," added Meka.

A case has been registered on a complaint from truck driver Gnanadeva.