Three migrant workers died, and six others sustained serious injuries after a vehicle carrying cement poles overturned on a national highway near Kittur town in Belagavi district of Karnataka early yesterday.
The tragic accident happened in Kittur Police Station and was caused by the driver's negligence. According to preliminary information, the vehicle was moving cement poles from Shivamogga to Belagavi when the mishap occurred.
The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the car and crashed into the road divider on the national highway late at night, authorities said. The collision caused significant damage to the heavily loaded vehicle and overturned it on the road, they added.
At the time of the accident, nine workers were in the vehicle along with the cargo. The force of the crash and the subsequent overturning of the vehicle killed three workers, three of them dead on the spot. The other six people were injured and were rushed to a nearby government hospital for treatment.
All the victims, including the deceased and injured workers, are believed to be residents of Uttar Pradesh who were employed for transportation and labour-related work. Police are working to verify their identities and inform their family members.
Residents and drivers who witnessed the accident immediately notified emergency services. Rescue teams, police personnel, and local authorities rushed to the scene and started relief efforts. The injured workers were carefully extricated from the wreckage and taken to the hospital in ambulances.
The accident briefly disrupted traffic on a busy national highway in the area as police and rescue teams worked to evacuate the overturned vehicle and clear the scattered cement poles off the road. Traffic resumed after police and rescue workers cleared the overturned vehicle and the cement poles from the road.
Police officials who went to the site of the accident conducted a preliminary inspection and gathered evidence to determine the cause of the mishap. Initial findings suggest that driver negligence might have played a role in the accident, although mechanical failure and road conditions are also being looked into as part of a wider investigation.
The risks associated with transporting heavy construction materials, especially during night hours, have been highlighted by road safety experts for years. Overloaded vehicles, driver fatigue, speeding, and lack of safety measures are among the main causes of highway deaths.
Labour vehicles are commonly used for transportation in construction jobs. The workers are exposed to great risk during long-distance travel.
Police have registered a case regarding the accident and are investigating it further. Witness accounts and the vehicle operator could provide answers to the reasons for the accident.
Authorities are still looking to see whether the vehicle was in compliance with transportation regulations and if there were adequate safety measures in place at the time of the incident. The condition of the vehicle and the driver’s records are being examined, the department said.
The tragic loss of three lives has cast a shadow over the region, with family members of the victims mourning. All necessary assistance will be provided for the injured workers, and a detailed investigation is going to be carried out to prevent similar accidents in the future, said officials.
