A night of religious devotion and celebration turned into one of horror in Karnataka’s Hassan district on Friday, when a speeding truck veered off the road and rammed into a Ganesh immersion procession, leaving nine people dead and nearly 20 others injured.
The shocking incident unfolded near Mosale Hosahalli village on the Hassan–Holenarasipura state highway, casting a pall of grief over the community.
According to police reports, the mishap occurred when a Maharashtra-registered Canter truck, associated with Delhi-based AVG Logistics, attempted to avoid colliding with a two-wheeler.
In the process, it swerved, crossed the road divider, and crashed directly into the group of devotees walking with the Ganesh idol.
The impact was devastating. Five students from a local engineering college were killed instantly, while four others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Seven of the victims hailed from Hassan district, while one each was from Ballari and Chitradurga. The injured, admitted to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and Mangala Hospital, are reported to be out of danger.
The Shantigrama police have since arrested the truck driver, identified as Bhuvanesh, and registered a case of accidental death.
Authorities said the mishap might have been aggravated by the traffic arrangement, as one side of the road had been blocked for the immersion procession while vehicles were allowed on the other.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the truck suddenly veered over the divider, leaving devotees with no time to react.
Political leaders quickly responded to the tragedy. Holenarasipura MLA H. D. Revanna blamed administrative lapses, pointing to the decision to allow traffic on the same stretch where processions were underway.
Deputy Commissioner K. S. Lathakumari, who rushed to the spot, faced angry locals who questioned the handling of the event and the lack of adequate safety measures.
Expressions of grief and promises of compensation followed from both state and national leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the accident as “heart-rending” and announced ex gratia relief of ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also conveyed his condolences, promising ₹5 lakh compensation to the bereaved families and free medical care for the injured.
Union minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, in his condolence message, called the accident “extremely saddening” and mourned the loss of innocent lives during what was meant to be a peaceful religious observance.
What began as a festive procession to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha ended in unimaginable sorrow, raising serious questions about traffic management and safety protocols during large public gatherings in the state.
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