Belthangady : A family of four members, including two siblings who were both former army men, died at Hirebailu near Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district on Monday after their car fell into an 80-feet deep gorge.

One of their relatives is battling for life at a hospital in Mangaluru.

The family, hailing from Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada, was en route to Kalasa to their sister’s house to watch Yakshagana.

The deceased are Vishwanath Rai, 63, Pushpavathi V Rai, 48, Rajeev Rai, 60 and Mamatha R Rai, 51. They hailed from Piligoodu in Belthangady taluk. The condition of one of their relatives who hailed from Puttur is critical.

As they reached Hirebailu, a few kilometres away from the destination, the driver lost control over the vehicle and veered their brand new vehicle onto one side of the road throwing the car into the gorge. The four people from the same family died on the spot, police said.