BALLARI: Three people died, three are missing while five others survived after the autorickshaw they were travelling in overturned and fell into a canal near Kolagal village in the district on Wednesday. The incident occurred when the autorickshaw was coming from Kolagal village to Ballari.
Five of the survivors managed to swim to safety and were rescued by locals. Fire and Emergency Services teams are looking for the bodies of three more women.
Eleven people, including the auto driver, a young boy, and nine women were travelling in the vehicle when it hit a stone and fell into the canal. They were identified as auto driver Bhimesh, the boy Mahesh, Hemavathi, Huligemma, Pushpa, Durgamma, Ningamma, Lakshmi, Yaramma, Nagarathna and Shipla. The women were heading to work when the accident occurred.
Hemavathi, one of the survivors, told media persons, “The boy Mahesh jumped off the vehicle before it hit the water. He did not fall into the canal. I, Shilpa, Yeramma and Bhimesh were rescued by some locals.”
Rescue teams are looking for the Nagarathna, Lakshmi and Huligemma while three other women were found dead.
Ballari Superintendent of Police Saidulu Adavat, who visited the spot, confirmed that the autorickshaw toppled after hitting a stone and not due to overspeeding. Three people are dead and a search is on for three others, he added.