Two killed, four injured as car hits lorry while overtaking on NH4 near Chitradurga
Chitradurga: Two individuals tragically lost their lives and four others sustained severe injuries when their car collided with a lorry while attempting to overtake it near Vijayapura Gate on National Highway 4, close to Chitradurga, on Monday morning.
The identities of the deceased victims have yet to be confirmed, but they have been identified as a 25-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman. The four injured passengers, who were also traveling in the car, were rushed to Chitradurga District Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
According to reports, the accident took place as the family from Bengaluru was returning home after a trip to Goa. As they approached Vijayapura Gate, the driver of the car made an overtaking maneuver to pass the lorry ahead, resulting in a collision between the two vehicles.
A case has been filed at the Bharamasagara Police Station and investigation is on.
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MK Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene after Saudi cancels 52,000 private Hajj seats
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene after Saudi Arabia abruptly cancelled approximately 52,000 Hajj seats allocated to private tour operators. The move has triggered widespread anxiety among Indian Muslim pilgrims preparing for the upcoming pilgrimage.
In his letter, Stalin expressed deep concern over the “sudden reduction” in India’s Hajj quota for private operators, describing the development as a matter of urgent concern. He emphasized that many pilgrims, including those from Tamil Nadu, had already made full payments and were left in distress due to the uncertainty caused by the cancellation.
"I request that the matter may be taken up with the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urgently and seek an expeditious remedy,” Stalin wrote, expressing hope that PM Modi’s intervention would help restore the cancelled quota and provide reassurance to affected families.
India had signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia in January 2025, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Hajj 2025. This was split in a 70:30 ratio between State Hajj Committees and private operators—allocating 1,22,517 seats to the former and 52,507 to the latter.
However, Saudi Arabia has now reduced the private Hajj quota by nearly 80 per cent, affecting close to 52,000 Indian pilgrims. The decision reportedly stems from revised policies and stricter timelines for private tour operators, which several failed to meet despite repeated reminders.
In a partial relief, the Saudi government has agreed to India's request to reopen the Hajj Portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), allowing an additional 10,000 pilgrims to register under the private category.
