In a tragic incident, three persons were killed on the spot and five others sustained serious injuries when the tyre of the car they were travelling in, burst resulting in the car toppling on NH-75 on Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Pushparaj (54), Malathi (35) and Rajeshwari (45), while the seriously injured have been identified as 12-year-old Keerthana, daughter of Shanthi Prasad, 7-year-old Ewanth, 39-year-old Chandrakala, wife of Pushparaj, 42-year-old Surendra and 38-year-old Dharma, all residents of Hassan. The injured are being treated at the Genreal Hospital here.

It is reported that all of them had been to Malaliamma Temple near Shanthigrama in the Mahindra Quanto (KA-51 MD-3870) and were returning to Hassan. As they reached Ranganathapura Gate on NH-75, the front tyre of the vehicle burst resulting in the car getting toppled on the road killing three persons and leaving other five persons seriously injured. It is learnt that Shanthi Prasad was behind the wheels when the mishap occurred.

Eyewitnesses said that following the tyre burst, the vehicle toppled five times before coming to a halt.

SP Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad visited the spot. Shanthigrama Police have registered a case in this regard and are investigating.