In a devastating incident near Itagi Crossing on the national highway in Kittur taluk, Belagavi district, three laborers lost their lives and four others were injured when a tanker lost control and ran over them on Sunday afternoon, police reported.

The victims who died on the spot are Ramachandra Jadhav (45), his son Mahesh Jadhav (18), and Ramesh (38). They were returning home after completing repair work on the highway when the tanker suddenly veered off, struck them, and overturned onto the service road.

Among the injured are Bhimava (55), who suffered severe injuries resulting in the amputation of both legs, Lakshmibai Jadhav (38), Anushree (18), and the tanker’s driver, Dinesh Shetty (45) from Mangaluru. All injured have been admitted to Belagavi District Hospital for treatment. Both the deceased and injured hail from Kalaburagi.

Officials from Kittur Police Station, along with Superintendent of Police Dr. Bhimashankar Guleda, inspected the site and have registered a case to investigate the accident.

Lakshmibai, wife of the deceased Ramachandra, emotionally recounted the tragedy: “Six of us went to work at 7 am. Since it was Sunday, we finished by noon and started back home. The tanker driver was on the phone when suddenly the vehicle hit us. My husband, son, and another person died instantly. Two others and I were injured. We had been working here for eight months. Now, my support is gone.”