8 die as truck ploughs into Kanataka Ganesh procession

HASSAN: Eight people died and 25 suffered grievous injuries when a speeding truck ploughed through a Ganesh immersion procession in Mosalehosahalli in Karnataka's Hassan district on Friday. The death toll was likely to rise as several of those injured were critical, officials said.

Villagers from Mosalehosahalli were holding the procession on one side of the four-laned NH-373. Police had blocked the road while diverting traffic on the other lane. The truck, which had been moving towards Holenarasipura, jumped over the median and crashed into the crowd of devotees around 8.30pm.

Villagers claimed the truck driver ended up hitting the procession, which was to end in five minutes, to avoid a biker. The wounded were rushed to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and other private hospitals in the district, about 20km away.

JD(S) MLA HD Revanna arrived at the scene and supervised relief efforts. He blamed cops, arguing they should have regulated the speed of the vehicle. JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna claimed police deployment was not enough for the procession. Hassan MP Shreyas and MLA Swaroop, deputy commissioner Latha Kumari and the SP also visited the spot. tnn