13 from AP killed in SUV-tanker collision in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur

ANANTAPUR: In a ghastly incident, thirteen people were killed and one person seriously injured after an SUV they were travelling in collided into a stationed tanker on Bengaluru-Hyderabad (NH 44) in Chikkaballapur in Karnataka on Thursday.

The deceased were identified as migrant labourers and belonging to Gorantla mandal in Sri Satya Sai district. Among the deceased, nine were men, three women and a boy, said Chikkaballapur police officer Nagesh.

All the migrant labourers went to their native place to celebrate the Dasara festival. The incident occurred when they were travelling back to Hongasandra in Bengaluru from Bagepalli. The driver of the SUV identified as Narasimhulu failed to notice the tanker stationed by the roadside due to thick fog and collided into it.

As many as 14 people were travelling in the SUV when the incident occurred. Five people died on the spot and eight others died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chikkaballapur. Upon receiving information, a team of police personnel from Chikkaballapur rushed to the spot and shifted the deceased to Government hospital for postmortem.

A case was registered and further investigations were underway into the incident. TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh expressed grief over the death of migrant labourers in the accident. He appealed to the State Government to provide relief for the bereaved families.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief over the loss of 13 lives in Chikkaballapur and gave condolences to the bereaved families. He asked the officials to provide better medical facilities to a person who sustained severe injuries in the accident. YS Jagan also assured of providing all neccessary support to the bereaved families.