Mangaluru,(The Hindu): Three men were killed while nine were injured when a truck overturned and hit an electricity pole in Perdoor village near Udupi on Sunday. The truck was carrying pandal cloths for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme in Udupi on May 1.

The Hiriyadka police gave the names of the deceased as Murthy of Chitradurga, Mentro Pegu and Pameya Pegu, both from Damoji village in Assam.

According to the Hiriyadka police, the three deceased persons were among the 11 travelling on the carriage of the truck loaded with pandal cloth. The pandal cloth was being brought from Chitradurga. Two passengers were with the truck driver in the cabin.

The police said that the truck left Chitradurga in the early hours of Sunday. Around 7.30 a.m., the truck driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle while negotiating an “S” curve and it overturned to hit an electricity pole. This resulted in snapping of the electricity line. Residents rushed to the spot and arranged to disconnect power supply.

The police said that all the 11 on the truck’s carriage were trapped below the consignment of pandal clothes. One died on the spot, while two died as they were being taken to a private hospital in Udupi. Nine persons are receiving treatment for injuries in the private hospital. The truck driver reportedly escaped from the spot soon after the accident, the police said.

On a complaint by Vijay, cleaner of the truck, the Hiriyadka police registered a case under Sections 279, 304 A, 337 and 338 of t