Madikeri: Kodagu BJP General Secretary was killed when a lorry collided with the Maruti Omni van in which he was travelling near Talatamane in Madikeri last evening. The deceased is Balachandra Kalagi (42), a resident of Sampaje.

Balachandra was on his way from Moornad and was proceeding on Talatamane bypass road to go to Sampaje, when the lorry collided with his van resulting in Balachandra suffering serious injuries. Though he was being rushed to Madikeri District Hospital, he breathed his last midway.

Madikeri Rural Police, who have registered a case, have launched a hunt to nab the driver of the lorry, who fled from the spot soon after the accident.

Meanwhile, hundreds of BJP activists and Balachandra’s supporters gathered at the hospital to pay their last respects.

Balachandra had also identified himself with Sangh Parivar and was the President of Sampaje Gram Panchayat and Sampaje Payasvini Co-operative Society.

As the Kodagu BJP General Secretary, Balachandra was campaigning for Pratap Simha, the BJP candidate for the coming Lok Sabha election.

Following his demise, all the programmes and events scheduled on Mar.20 has been cancelled and condolence programmes will be held in the district, said MLA K.G. Bopaiah.