5 carrying 'Shivjyoti' run over in Kolhapur

Shiv Jayanti celebrations turned tragic for a group of people who were carrying 'shivjyoti' from Kolhapur to Sangli when five of them were run over by an unidentified vehicle early on Monday. Thirty others suffered injuries, police said.

The accident took place around 5.30 am near Nagao phata, nearly 20 km from Kolhapur. The deceased have been identified as Ketan Pradip Khoche, Pravin Shantaram Trilotkar, Arun Ambadas Bonde, Sumit Sanjay Kulkarni and Sushant Vijay Patil — all from Sangli.

According to the Kolhapur police, the group of nearly 40 youth from Sangli had gathered at Panhala fort to celebrate Shiv Jayanti and decided to carry 'shivjyoti' from Panhala fort to Sangli.

"They started from Panhala fort in the wee hours of Monday; three to four youths were running, holding the 'shivjyoti', while others escorted the runners in a truck," a police officer said.

When the group reached Nagao phata on Pune-Bangalore highway, they decided to halt to add oil in the torch.

"Five youths were standing on the road and refuelling the 'shivjyoti' while the truck carrying the other members waited. An identified vehicle suddenly rammed into the truck and also hit the five people, killing them on the spot, the officer said.

The injured persons have been admitted to CPR hospital in Kolhapur.