Drunk man ploughs car into Ayyappa devotees in Karwar, leaves one woman dead, 8 injured

KARWAR: A drunk driver mowed down a young woman and left eight other Ayyappa devotees with serious injuries after crashing through barricades at Ravindra Nagar here on Tuesday night. The car driver had fled the scene after the accident and a hit-and-run case was registered against him at the Siddapura police station on Wednesday.

The accused Roshan Fernandes mowed down a group of devotees who were heading to the Ayyappa temple, leaving Deepa Ramagond (21) of Kavalakoppa dead. The injured Kalpana, Janaki, Chaitra, Jyothi, Madevi, Gowri, Ramappa and Gajanana Bhat were shifted to the taluk hospital in Siddapura. Later, Kalpana and one of the other injured were shifted to Shivamogga.

Hundreds of devotees had gathered at the Ayyappa temple on the occasion of Makara Sankranti on Tuesday. Roshan Fernandes, who was said to be drunk, ploughed through a group of devotees with his Ford Ecosport SUV in a drunken state and fled the scene, police said.

A case was registered against Fernandes under Sections 281, 125(J),125(c),105 of BNS. Locals alleged that he had earlier created ruckus during Hindu religious processions and have demanded strict action against him.