13 deaths in Haveri accident: Police detain lorry driver and cleaner

HAVERI: The Byadagi police have arrested the driver and cleaner of the parked lorry in connection with the Tempo Traveller passenger van accident case which claimed the lives of 13 pilgrims on Friday morning.

Lorry driver Ramesh Tammaiah (62)  and cleaner Prajwal Prasad (23) were taken into police custody. The government has, meanwhile, announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the family of the deceased.

According to the police, Adarsh purchased a new Tempo Traveller and had gone with his family to offer puja to their family deity and to the new vehicle. The incident occurred when they are returning from Savadathi.

The Haveri deputy commissioner visited the hospital and inquired about the health of the injured. He also condoled the deaths of the family members. In addition to this, District in-charge Minister Shivananda Patil has personally given a cash compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the families of the deceased for immediate expenses.

Adarsh’s brother said the entire family, including his mother, elder brother, sister, uncle and other members, went to visit the temple and perform puja for the new Tempo Traveller. “They did not contact us during the journey”, he said.

Arpita, a survivor, said, “We went to Maharashtra to visit Suri Lakshmi Bai temple to perform puja. The accident occurred while returning from Savadthi. I was sitting in the last row and had fallen asleep. I was caught between the seat and the rear doors when I woke up. We were 17 passengers in the TT vehicle. Adarsha is my brother. We are two children of my parents”.

Another survivor Annapurna, Adarsh’s aunty, said, he wanted to start a new venture and had purchased a new vehicle. “He wanted to earn independently, but fate had cruel plans”, she said.

Haveri, Deputy Commissioner Raghunandan Murthy, said, “Of the 17 people in the TT vehicle, 13 died on the spot while Annapurna, Arpita, Parashuram and Gautam survived. Out the four, two are in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the ICU, and the other two are admitted to Haveri District Hospital. The two other injured are admitted to a private hospital and KIMS Hospital in Hubballi”.