Yellapur: The death toll in Thursday's devastating Tufan Cruiser-lorry collision on the Arbail Ghat stretch of National Highway-52 in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district has risen to seven after one of the critically injured victims succumbed to injuries while being shifted to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi.

According to sources, the two remaining survivors continue to battle for life and are undergoing treatment at KIMS, Hubballi.

The accident occurred at around 1.30 a.m. near Balgar under the jurisdiction of Yellapur Police Station when a Tufan Cruiser carrying nine persons, including the driver, collided head-on with an oncoming lorry. The impact completely mangled the vehicle, trapping all the occupants inside and triggering a major rescue operation by local residents, police personnel and emergency responders.

Also read: Six killed, three injured in lorry-Cruiser collision in Karnataka's Yellapur

The deceased have been identified as Sanjay Madival (33), Akshay Tejappa Murakannavar (26), Abhishek Ishwar Kalle (28), Abhishek Madival (27), Basavaraj Devanayak Kankanavar (38), Manjunath Ashok Chulaki (33) and Sachin (26). The injured have been identified as Shivraj Durgappa Madival (22) and Channabasayya Basalingayya Sampagaon (28), both of whom remain under treatment.

According to sources, all nine occupants were residents of Dharwad district and were reportedly associated with a leading online food delivery platform as part-time delivery executives. They were travelling from Dharwad towards the coastal region when the accident occurred.

Yellapur Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances leading to the accident.

(Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya, Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. and other officials inspect the site of the fatal road accident on NH-52 at Arbail Ghat under the Yellapur police station limits on Thursday, where seven people were killed.)