Chikmagalur: The last rites of National Award-winning Kannada actor Sanchari Vijay (38) will be performed at his native place Panchanahalli in Kadur taluk of Chikmagalur with full State honours later today. 

The actor had suffered serious head injuries in a road accident on Saturday and was admitted to Bengaluru’s Apollo Hospital in critical condition where he was declared brain dead last evening.

Earlier in the day today, his body was kept at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru for people to pay their last respects. The actor’s organs were donated following consent from his family members.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa took to Twitter to appreciate Vijay’s family for donating his organs. “National Award winning actor Sanchari Vijay’s funeral will be held with full State Police honours. With my condolences, I also express my gratitude to his family, who donated his organs,” tweeted Chief Minister’s Office.

Late on Monday night, doctors had announced that Vijay was brain dead. “Vijay’s apnea tests were performed at 12.25 pm and 7.50 pm today (Monday) and are found to be positive. This means that there is irreversible complete damage to the brain. The next step is the retrieval of organs and then transplant procedures will follow,” the hospital had said in a bulletin.