TUMKUR: Thirteen passengers, including the bus driver, died and ten others were injured when the KSRTC bus they were travelling in collided head on with a sand-laden truck near Mulbagal in Kolar on Monday afternoon. Five people died on the spot, while others at the Mulbagal Government Hospital and Devaraj Urs Hospital in Kolar. The bus was heading to Tirupati from Bengaluru, while the truck was coming from Nangali.
Majority of the people who died were sitting on the right side of the bus, which suffered the maximum impact in the accident. The special bus was carrying 39 passengers. The Transport Department announced Rs 2.30 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of each of the deceased, and offered free treatment for the injured. The deceased were yet to be identified, the Mulbagal police said. Three officials including, Circle Inspector Krishnappa, SI Ambarish Gowda and village accountant Krishnappa, have been suspended for not stopping illegal sand mining activity in the district. Deputy Commissioner D.K. Ravi ordered the suspension.
