Udupi (Karnataka): A vehicle carrying laborers and decorative items overturned on National Highway-66 in Udupi district on Sunday, killing five laborers and injuring seven others. Police said that the accident took place at 3.30 pm near Uliyaragoli village under Kaup police station area.
According to the police, driver Ranjeet was driving the vehicle, which was carrying goods from Cowp to Udupi for a program. 12 laborers were traveling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Three of them were sitting in the cabin and nine in the rear.
A senior police officer said preliminary investigation indicated that the vehicle was traveling at high speed when the driver allegedly lost control, causing it to hit the divider and overturned. The vehicle met with an accident on the service road. Police said that the victims were residents of Assam and Tripura. Police said that most of the people suffered serious head injuries, due to which they died on the spot.
The police officer said that the injured including driver Ranjeet have been admitted to a private hospital in Udupi. Many people are in ICU.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and are investigating whether the reason for the accident was rash driving, fatigue or some mechanical fault. Officials said the condition of the vehicle, tire marks from the middle and statements of eyewitnesses are part of the ongoing investigation.
These workers were hired by a local decoration agency for decoration work in a private event and they were carrying the goods in the same vehicle. Police officials said that to prevent such accidents, there is a need to strictly enforce transport safety rules for movement of workers. Further investigation is underway.