One killed, over 13 injured

Mandya: A 55-year-old man was killed while over 13 persons, including six children, sustained injuries when the viewers’ gallery collapsed during a kabbadi tournament at Mallanayakanakatte village in the taluk on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Papannachar, a resident of Mallanayakanakatte village.

Details: Nithin, Karthik, Jaishankar and Basavaraju of Mallanayakanakatte village had organised a kabbadi tournament at the village and a lot of people from the village including from neighbouring villages had come to witness the tournament.

The organisers had erected a gallery for the viewers to sit and watch the kabbadi matches. As the gallery was not erected properly, the gallery collapsed and iron rods fell on Papannachar killing him and injuring over 13 persons, including six children. Of the injured 13, three to four persons were injured seriously. The injured were admitted to MIMS Hospital and a private hospital in Mandya.

MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, who visited the injured, enquired about their health and collected information about the incident.

The MLA instructed the Police to initiate stern legal action against the organisers of the kabbadi tournament. He also informed that he would speak with the State Government and the District Administration to provide compensation to the deceased and the injured persons.

District Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy, who visited the hospital yesterday, enquired the well-being of the injured and demanded compensation be paid to the family members of deceased Papannachar.

A case has been registered at Shivalli Police Station and the Cops have launched a hunt to arrest the tournament organisers.