3 Ayyappa devotees seriously injured as minibus hits tree after brake fails

MANGALURU: Three Ayyappa devotees were seriously injured after the driver of a minibus they were travelling in lost control due to brake failure at Mudaje in Belthangady taluk on Friday.

The devotees were travelling in the minibus from Kudligi taluk in Ballari district to Sabarimala temple in Kerala. On their way, the minibus, carrying 21 people, rammed into some trees in the forest after the brake failed. The injured were identified as Shashi, Jaladhara, Raghu, Basavaraja and Loka.

Three people were seriously injured in the accident. Six ambulances reached the spot and the injured were admitted to the Mangaluru and Ujire SDM Hospitals. Another 15 people are being treated in Kakkinje hospital. The Belthangady Traffic Police visited the spot.