Mangaluru: In two separate tragic road accidents reported within hours of each other near Mangaluru on Saturday, six people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries, some of them critical. The first accident occurred at BC Road in Bantwal taluk, while the second was reported at Panambur under Suratkal Police Station limits.

According to sources, the first accident took place around 4:40 am when an Innova car travelling from Bengaluru to Udupi’s Sri Krishna Math lost control and crashed into the Narayana Guru (NG) Circle on the Mangaluru–Bengaluru National Highway at BC Road.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, resulting in one person dying on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Ravi (64), Ramya (23) and Nanjamma (75), all residents of Peenya, Bengaluru.

Six others, including Keerthi, Sushila, Bindu and Prashanth, were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Among the total nine relatives travelling in the car, the driver Subramanya and another passenger Kiran sustained minor injuries and are said to be out of danger.

Local residents alleged that the accident occurred due to the unscientific design of the newly constructed NG Circle, developed as part of the ongoing BC Road–Addahole Highway works. They said this is the first major accident at the newly built circle.

Traffic SI Sutesh and Bantwal Traffic Police visited the spot and registered a case.

Just hours after the Bantwal incident, another fatal accident was reported near Panambur Signal under Suratkal Police Station limits, where an auto rickshaw was completely crushed between two tanker lorries, killing all three occupants on the spot.

Sources said that vehicles were halted at the signal — first a tanker, followed by a car, and then an auto rickshaw. Suddenly, a speeding tanker approaching from behind rammed into the auto rickshaw and the car, dragging the auto forward and smashing it against the tanker parked ahead.

The deceased were identified as Muiddin Kunhi (25), the driver from Ullal, and passengers Abu Bakar (65) and Ibrahim (68), both hailing from Konaje.

The crash led to a major traffic jam in the area before police intervened and restored traffic movement.