Nine people have died, and 22 others are hospitalized after a truck rammed into devotees during a Ganesh immersion procession in Hassan on Friday evening. The deceased include six locals and three students from Chikkamagaluru, Bellary, and Chitradurga.

The truck, traveling from Hassan to Holenarasipur, first hit a motorcycle and a barricade before crashing into the crowd near Mosale Hosahalli on National Highway 373. The injured driver is under medical care, and legal action has been initiated.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah announced ₹5 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and full medical support for the injured.

The PMO added ₹2 lakh in compensation. Most victims were young men, including engineering students attending the immersion near Government Engineering College, Mosale Hosahalli.

Eyewitnesses described chaos as the truck overturned amid the crowd. Former minister H.D. Revanna blamed police negligence and demanded ₹15 lakh compensation per family.