from special correspondent in Uchila

Udupi: Vijayakumar (24) aka Rakesh from Kundapur died when a car plying from Mangalore to Kundapur went out of the driver's control and rammed into a tree in front of the Shri Narayana Guru Sangha premises in Uchila on late Sunday night.

Vijayakumar was at the wheel at the time of the mishap. Four others, Vikram Pai, Vivek Pai, Arjun Shenoy and Damodar, also said to be from Kundapur, have been injured and admitted to a private hospital in Manipal.

A group of friends and relatives were reportedly returning from Mangalore to Kundapur in five cars after attending a religious function.

A case has been registered in the Padubidri police station.