Three of deceased from Goravanahalli in T. Narasipur taluk, another from Gamanahalli in Srirangapatna taluk; youth driving car miraculously survives

Mysore/Mysuru: Close on the heels of a man meeting his watery grave at Visvesvaraya Canal (VC Canal) in Mandya district after his car plunged into the canal recently, four women, including a woman and her daughter, met a similar end at Gamanahalli near Arakere in Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya last night.

The deceased are identified as Rekha (35), wife of C. Basavaraju and her daughter Sanjana (18), Mamatha (40), wife of Mallesh from Goravanahalli, T. Narasipur taluk, Mysuru district and their relative Mahadevamma (50) of Gamanahalli in Mandya district.

While 25-year-old Manoj, son of the deceased Mamatha, who was driving the car, miraculously survived in the incident. He has been admitted at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) Hospital.

The tragedy struck when the four were travelling to their relative’s house at Doddamulagudu where they had planned to stay overnight, to attend the religious rituals at Kalabhyraveshwara Temple at Adhichunchanagiri in Nagamangala taluk in Mandya today early morning.

The three among the deceased, who started in a car from Goravanahalli, had picked up Mahadevamma from Gamanahalli who too met the tragic end in the accident. Manoj, who was at the wheels, lost control while negotiating a curve before veering off the road and plunging into the canal after hitting the metal crash barrier at Gamanahalli that shares the border with T. Narasipurtaluk.

It is said that, Manoj who was speedily driving the car in the narrow road, turned the steering towards his left, only to plough the vehicle directly into the canal. According to another version, Manoj was blinded by the headlight of a vehicle coming from the opposite direction that led to the accident.

Learning about the incident, both T. Narasipur and Arakere Police personnel rushed to the spot and fished out the bodies with the help of expert divers.

Arakere Police have registered a case in this regard.

District Minister visits MIMS

Social Welfare Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, who is also the Mysuru District in-Charge Minister and represents T. Narasipur Constituency in the Assembly, visited MIMS Hospital this morning and consoled the grieving family members.

Speaking to media persons, Mahadevappa said: “Following the incident, Mandya District Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy, MLAs A.B. RameshbabuBandisiddegowda (Srirangapatna) and Ganiga Ravi (Mandya) spoke to the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister directed the District Administration of Mandya to announce ex-gratia of

Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased persons.”

Chaluvarayaswamy also gave Rs. 50,000 as compensation to the bereaved families from his packet.