Veteran theatre personality K. Muddukrishna and his wife Indrani D. were killed after their car was involved in an accident while they were going towards Varanasi from Lucknow on Sunday evening.

Mr. Muddukrishna, 64, and Ms. Indrani, 59, a senior scientist in CFTRI, are reported to have died on Monday after they were shifted to King George Hospital in Lucknow.

Sources in CFTRI said efforts are being made to bring the mortal remains to Mysuru after formalities, including post-mortem, are completed.

The couple, who was touring Uttar Pradesh since the last four days, had hired a taxi to visit Varanasi. A bus from the opposite direction collided with their car on the Ayodhya-Gonda highway. Car driver Imran sustained injuries, and the bus driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. While Ms. Indrani succumbed to injuries in the hospital, sources said Mr. Muddukrishna died of a heart attack after learning about his wife’s death.

The couple’s two children, who are working abroad, are on their way to Mysuru, sources said. Mr. Muddukrishna, who had taken voluntary retirement from Indian Bank 15 years ago, was the secretary of theatre group Mysuru Samudaya and co-founder of Mysuru Film Society.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy condoled the deaths.