Three Dead and Three Injured as Car Overturns on Highway Near Venkatapur in Dharwad Taluk

A fatal road accident on National Highway 48 near Venkatapur village in Dharwad taluk claimed the lives of three people and left three others critically injured in the early hours of Tuesday, September 1, 2026. According to police officials, the occupants of the car were catering workers returning towards Dharwad town after completing an assignment and having dinner at a roadside eatery on the outskirts. The accident occurred between 2:30 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. when the SUV driver attempted to overtake a heavy vehicle or swerved sharply to avoid oncoming traffic. The vehicle lost control at high speed, struck the median road divider, and flipped over multiple times on the highway. The deceased were identified as K.U. Vinayak (25), Manjunath (29), and Basavaraj (34), all hailing from Davangere district. Three other occupants, including driver Basanagouda Patil (26) of Hosa Yellapur in Dharwad, alongside passengers Manjappa K.R. and Ajay, suffered severe injuries and were promptly shifted to the Dharwad District Hospital for medical care. Personnel from the jurisdictional Garag police station rushed to the spot, secured the wreckage, and cleared the road with help from local residents to restore normal traffic movement. Police have registered a case and initiated an inquiry. Local traffic authorities have urged motorists travelling on NH-48 during late night hours to maintain strict speed limits and exercise extra caution.