MANGALURU/KASARGOD: Five people from a family were killed and seven others were seriously injured in a head-on collision between a heavy goods truck and the muti-utility vehicle they were travelling in, on the national highway at Uppala on Monday. Manjeshwaram police said three women and two men from Ullal in Mangaluru died on the spot. All were residents of Ajjinadka in Talapady.
The van carrying 18 people, including 12 children, was coming to Mangaluru after a housewarming ceremony in Palakkad. The deceased are — Imtiaz, Asma, Mushtaq, Naseema and Fathima.
Imtiaz and Asma had four children, all of whom accompanied them in the overnight journey. Out of four, Abdul Rehman (12) and Marshuda (10) have suffered injuries while Amal (6) and six-month-old Abid escaped unhurt. Imtiaz, who was supplying fish to stalls, had returned to Mangaluru just a year ago after working in the Gulf for several years.
Mushtaq, an auto driver, is survived by his wife Saudha who is critical. His son Sawad (12) and two daughters Fathima (10) and Sumaiya (3) are injured while another son Amar (5) escaped unhurt.
Naseema is survived by Shahid (16), Afiya (9) and Fathima (1) who suffered minor injuries. Naseema and Asma’s mother Fathima died in the hospital.All 12 children involved in the accident have lost their mother or father or both.