Six from Gokak die in MP accident while returning from Prayagraj

BELAGAVI, BIDAR: Six people who were returning to Gokak from Prayagraj after attending the Maha Kumbh Mela, died in a road accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur on Monday, according to the Belagavi police.

Of the eight people who had left for Prayagraj from Gokak on February 18, six lost their lives in the horrific road accident. Two others are in critical condition and have been admitted to a local hospital.

While six people died, Sadashiva Kutari Upalali (centre) survived with no injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Balachandra Narayan Goudar (50), Sunil Balakrishna Shedashak (45), Basavaraj Neerpadappa Kuratti (63), Basavaraj Shivappa Doddamani (49), Eeranna Shankarappa Shibanakatti (27) and Virupaksha Channappa Gumatti (61). The injured Mustaq Kurubeta and Sadashiva Kutari Upalali are admitted to a local hospital.

Grieving family members at one of the houses.

The Force Cruiser passenger vehicle (KA 49 M 5054) in which they were travelling was completely crushed in the accident. The Belagavi police are in touch with their counterparts in Jabalpur to make arrangements to bring the bodies back to Gokak and the district administration too is in touch with the local authorities.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan said, “The accident occurred around 5 am when they were returning from Prayagraj via Jabalpur, Nagpur to Gokak. The driver Mushtaq is seriously injured and is admitted to the Jabalpur district hospital and miraculuously, Sadashiva Kutari Upalali survived with no injuries. I have spoken to the officials there and we are coordinating to arrange the post-mortem examination and to bring the bodies back”.

The bodies of six people from Ladageri in Bidar, who had died in an accident near Varanasi, were brought back on Monday.

Meanwhile, the bodies of six people from Ladageri in Bidar, who died in a road accident near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, was brought back to Bidar on Monday in three ambulances. The ambulances arrived via Nanded in Maharashtra.

The last rites of five of the deceased were conducted at the cemetry near Bhoomareddy college in Bidar while that of one of the decaesed was conducted at Nagamarapalli in Aurad taluk.

The group of 14 people were on their way to Varanasi from Prayagraj when the accident occurred. While five had died on the spot one woman died in hospital while undergoing treatment for injuries.