A pre-dawn journey back from the Sabarimala shrine ended in tragedy on Friday when a cruiser carrying 11 pilgrims slammed into a parked truck near Tumakuru, Karnataka. The accident, which occurred around 4:40 am near the Vasanthanarasapura Industrial Area, claimed four lives, including that of a six-year-old girl.
Local police have identified the deceased as little Sakshi, who was a Class 1 student making her second trip to the famous Kerala shrine, along with Venkateshappa (30), Marathappa (35), and Gavisiddappa (40). All the victims were residents of Kukanuru in Koppal district. Seven others were injured in the collision, and while they were rushed to a nearby hospital, doctors have noted that two remain in critical condition.
The group had set out for the pilgrimage on January 5, bringing together devotees from two different villages for the spiritual journey. This latest incident adds to a grim tally of road accidents involving pilgrims in the region over the past year. Just a few months ago, in November 2025, four friends heading to Sabarimala were killed when their car plunged off a flyover in Kolar. Similarly, in March 2025, five people died in a head-on collision while traveling to the Male Mahadeshwara temple for Maha Shivaratri celebrations.
The police in Kora are investigating whether low visibility or driver fatigue was the fault. It was supposed to be a peaceful return home for the families in Kukanuru; instead, it turned into a scene of mourning and once again brought to the fore the severe risks faced by devotees undertaking long-distance road journeys in pilgrimage season.
Also read: Sabarimala scam: State govt pressurising SIT, says Satheesan
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