9 killed after truck ploughs into Ganesh procession in Karnataka’s Hassan district; PM announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia

Five people, identified as students of a local engineering college, were killed on the spot, while four others were reported dead at a local hospital. While seven of the deceased were from Hassan district, one was from Ballari, and another from Chitradurga, the police said. A majority of the injured admitted to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and Mangala Hospital are stable, the police said on Saturday.

The Shantigram police have registered a case on charges of causing accidental death and arrested the driver of the Maharashtra-registered truck, identified as Bhuvanesh. The truck is associated with the Delhi-headquartered logistics company, AVG Logistics.

“One side of the road had been blocked for traffic due to the Ganesh processions. Traffic was allowed only on one side of the road. We were standing on the side of the road where traffic was moving, and we saw the truck try to avoid hitting a two-wheeler coming and veering over the divider into the Ganesh procession,” an eyewitness told local television channels.

Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna hinted that the local administration and police were at fault for allowing the Ganesh processions and the traffic flow on the road.

K S Lathakumari, Deputy Commissioner, Hassan, who visited the spot, was gheraoed and questioned by locals who began gathering in large numbers on Friday night.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the loss of lives in the accident. “The mishap in Hassan, Karnataka, is heart-rending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those who have been injured recover at the earliest,” he said in a post on X.

“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” the post stated.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased.

“It is deeply saddening to learn news of several people losing their lives and over 20 others seriously injured when a lorry collided with a procession heading for Ganesh immersion in Hassan,” Siddaramaiah said on X.

“On behalf of the government, a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each will be provided to the families of the deceased. The government will also bear the medical expenses for the treatment of those injured in the incident,” he said.

In a post on X on Friday night, Union minister H D Kumaraswamy also expressed shock at the incident. “It is extremely saddening that devotees lost their lives after being run over by a truck during the Ganapati procession,” the post stated.