Belagavi truck crash kills three Durga devotees in Karnataka

Three devotees were killed and at least ten others injured when a truck rammed into a religious procession carrying a Durga idol along the Belagavi–Kolhapur national highway late on Saturday night.

The victims, all residents of Hunchyanatti village in the Hukkeri taluk of Belagavi district, were returning home from Belagavi city with the idol. A truck approaching from behind crashed into the procession near Managutti village and the Hattaragi toll plaza on National Highway 48.

Police identified the deceased as Prakash, Mahesh, and Daneshwari, who all died at the scene. The impact caused the truck to turn on its side, crushing several worshippers under the vehicle and scattering others along the road. Four of the injured are in critical condition.

Emergency teams transferred the injured to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and nearby private medical facilities in Belagavi.

What caused the Belagavi Durga procession crash

According to police, a group of young men from Hunchyanatti had purchased a Plaster of Paris idol of Goddess Durga in Belagavi city and were bringing it to their village on a tractor accompanied by devotees walking alongside.

The truck was travelling behind the tractor on the highway when it struck the procession, triggering panic among the worshippers. Officers from the Yamakanamaradi police station arrived at the location, launched rescue efforts, and cleared the highway.

Police have registered a formal case to determine the exact circumstances of the collision. It is not yet clear whether the truck driver was detained or sustained injuries in the crash.

Second fatal accident in Hukkeri taluk

In a separate collision in the same taluk, a state transport bus driver died and 12 passengers were injured on National Highway 48 near Sankeshwar.

The bus was operating on its scheduled route from Gangavathi to Kolhapur via Belagavi when it struck the rear of a tipper truck. The bus driver died at the scene, while local emergency responders brought the 12 injured passengers to Sankeshwar Taluk Hospital for treatment.