Last rites of Hassan accident victims performed at native villages

HASSAN: The victims of the ghastly accident in which a lorry ploughed through a Ganesha idol immersion procession at Mosalehosalli in Hassan were identified on Saturday morning and the bodies handed over to their families after autopsy. Meanwhile, one person who was admitted to hospital has been declared brain dead.

The victims are Praveen Kumar (22), a final-year engineering student hailing from Ballari, Rajesh (17) from KB Palya in Hale Kote hobli, Eshwar (17) of Danayakanahalli Koppal, Gokul (17) of Muttigeheeralli, Kumar (25) and Praveen (25) from Kabbinahalli, all in Holenarsipur taluk, Mithun (23) from Gavigangapura in Hosadurga taluk of Chitradurga district, Suresh, an engineering student from Manenahalli Marle village in Chikkamagalur district and Prabhakar (55) from Bantarahalli in Hassan taluk.

Chandan is believed to be brain dead.

Another victim, Chandan (26) from Shivaiahna Koppal, who was admitted to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, is said to be brain dead. Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda, who visited Chandan in the ICU, described his condition as critical.

Among those injured, engineering students Ritwik and Adarsh, along with Mahantesh (33), are undergoing treatment at the Janapriya Hospital in Hassan. Darshan, Vinay, Deekshit, Harshit, Yeshwant, Sandeep, Ashok, Vishnu, Vishal are being treated at HIMS.

District in-charge Minister Krishna Byregowda with Police Superintendent Mohammed Sujeetha at the site of the accident on Saturday

Eshwar (17) of Danayakanahalli Koppal was driving an autorickshaw for a living and was supporting his family. He had scored 95 per cent marks in SSLC and secured admission in the science stream in PUC. His uncle said the boy had plans to support his family after completing his studies.

Suresh, who hailed from Chikkamagalur, was supported by his parents, who are construction workers, and his younger brother Raju in his studies. The family had also taken a loan from a charitable organisation to funds his education.

Praveen, who hailed from Kabbinahalli village, had completed his ITI course in Hassan, had returned home from work and then went to join the Ganesha procession despite his family opposing it. “He was our only hope and we had planned to get him married”, the parents said.

Praveen Kumar of Ballari was a resident of Nagalakere locality and his mother Susheela works as a domestic help and also at a hospital. He was studying the final semester of his engineering course in Hassan after completing a diploma couse in Ballari.

BJP leaders R Ashoka and C T Ravi, JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, MLA Shreyas Patel were among those who visited the hospitals to check on the injured and also called on the families of the victims.