Three dead, one survives after car plunges in Visvesvaraya Canal in Mandya

MANDYA: Three people died and while another survived after a car plunged into the Visvesvaraya (VC) Canal near Thibbanahalli village on Monday. The deceased are the car owner Fayaz a.k.a Battery, Aslam Pasha and Peer Khan while the survivor was identified as Nayaz, all residents of Halahalli slum in Mandya. Nayaz was rescued by locals.

The car plunged into the canal after the driver lost control while apparently overtaking another vehicle. The flow of water in the canal was heavy and the car was pulled out with the help of a crane by the Fire and Emergency Services personnel and police after water being let into the canal was stopped. Expert swimmers had also been summoned.

Locals vented ire at the irrigation department engineer Jagadish stating that the accident occurred as there was no retaining wall near the canal. They also staged a protest at the accident site for some time. When district Deputy Commissioner Dr Kumar arrived at the spot, the locals questioned him if the district administration would have been so lax if their children were to move around in those parts.

Police Superintendent Mallikarjun Baladandi told Public TV, “The deceased and the survivor were residents of Mandya and the accident occurred when they were trying to overtake another vehicle. There are retaining walls at some places and are being built at some other locations. However, at some places, the retaining walls have not been built”.

Locals had staged a protest for some time on Monday afternoon.

Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah also visited the spot and confirmed the deaths. The car had fallen about 15 feet deep into the canal and fell into the water again while it was being hoisted up by the crane as the holding cable snapped. It was finally pulled out.