Eight people, including seven girls and the driver of a cruiser, died in an accident on the Saanekere Heggere cross in the Chitradurga district around 2 am on Saturday.

14 girls from a backward and minority hostel in Bellary were returning from Bengaluru after giving interviews for a job in the city. 

The cruiser in which the girls were travelling crashed with a private vehicle coming from Andhra Pradesh. 

While no deaths have been reported in the other vehicle, eight people in the cruiser died. Seven girls survived, of which the condition of four is said to be critical. 

All the fourteen girls, aged between 22-24, were degree students and were pursuing a special computer science coaching offered to girls belonging to minority communities. 

A case of rash driving has been booked, Challakere inspector Venkatesh said. 

Parameshwar Naik, Bellary district in-charge ministers, on Saturday met the families of both the girls in the hospital and offered a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the families of deceased.