Gadag: Three women agricultural labourers were killed on the spot, and more than 15 others sustained injuries in a head-on collision between a cruiser vehicle and a canter truck on state highway-30 near Jigaluru Cross in Ron taluk early on Thursday.The deceased were identified as Mariyamba Dadesab Hunagund, 55, Annapurna Lakshman Changali, 45, and Sujata Rajappa Hosamani, 30, all residents of Shivaji Peth in Gajendragad.Police said the women were among a group of agricultural labourers travelling from Gajendragad to Ron in a cruiser vehicle for peanut harvesting when the accident occurred. As the cruiser neared Jigaluru Cross, a speeding canter truck allegedly collided head-on with it.The impact crushed the cruiser, trapping several occupants inside. Locals rushed to the spot and assisted in rescue efforts, but the three women, who had suffered critical injuries, died on the spot.According to the police, the accident involved 18 women labourers. While three died at the scene, three others sustained critical injuries and were rushed for emergency medical care. The remaining 12 suffered serious injuries. The injured were shifted to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Taluk Govt Hospital, Ron, while the critically injured women were referred to the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital.Gadag SP Rohan Jagadish, along with Ron police personnel, visited the accident site for inspection. Preliminary investigation suggested negligence by the canter truck driver as the cause of the accident. A case has been registered. The bodies were sent to the Ron hospital for postmortem examination.“More than 10 people were injured and taken to Ron Taluk Hospital and Gadag GIMS Hospital. Sujata, Annapurna and Mariyamba succumbed to their injuries. An investigation into the accident is underway,” SP Jagadish said.
