Pilgrims' journey ends in tragedy: 6 dead in road accidents

Six individuals, including three female pilgrims, tragically lost their lives in two separate road accidents that occurred on the outskirts of Bengaluru late Saturday night. The incidents also resulted in injuries to eleven passengers and two drivers. The first accident saw a Tempo Traveller carrying 14 pilgrims from Tiptur rear-end a truck near the Rani Circle flyover in Devanahalli around 11:50 PM. The pilgrims were heading to Kempegowda International Airport for an early morning flight to Varanasi. While descending a ramp, the van driver attempted to brake after the truck veered right unexpectedly, leading to a severe collision. Three women pilgrims were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, and another is in critical condition. The truck driver, who initially fled the scene, was later detained. A case has been registered against him for causing death by negligence. In a second incident around 11:30 PM, three men travelling in a Tata Intra mini goods vehicle died after crashing into a canter truck parked on the Medahalli bridge on Old Madras Road. The truck had broken down, but its driver had parked it without tail lights or reflectors, making it nearly invisible to oncoming traffic. The goods vehicle driver failed to notice the stationary truck, resulting in the fatal crash. The driver of the broken-down truck has also been booked by police.