Gadag: As many as 12 members of one family died after a KSRTC?bus rammed the Maruti Omni van they were travelling near Harlapura Cross in Gadag district on Sunday. A woman who has sustained serious injuries is battling for life.

The accident occurred when the victims were returning from a marriage in Mandalgeri of Koppal district. A?KSRTC?bus proceeding to Hosapete from Hubballi rammed the van. Ten passengers died on the spot while two succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

The deceased include six women, four men and two children, all belonging to the family of Shankaragouda Somanagouda of Rajivgandhi Nagar in Gadag.

The deceased are Shankaragouda Somanagouda (75), a retired Hescom employee, his wife Parvathamma (55), his brother’s wife Shakunthala Veeranagouda Somanagouda (56), daughters-in-law Rathna (30), Shantha (31), grandchildren Abhishek (21), Akash (17), Priya (7), Amitha (4), Karan Raju Yali (4) and Basamma (40), a neighbour of Somanagouda. The identity of another deceased is yet to be established.

The driver and conductor of the bus fled the spot after the accident.

The rescue team had tough time retrieving the dead bodies from mangled remains of the car.