Daijiworld Media Network – Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Jun 25: In an unfortunate incident, a youth died after the petrol tank of the car in which his family was travelling caught fire accidentally on the night of Thursday June 23. The incident occurred at Gollarahatti Gate in the taluk on national highway. Somesh (25), son of a senior officer of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd in Gerusoppa, Nanjappa, was the victim of the accident.

Nanjappa, a native of K R Pet taluk in Mandya district, was transferred to Bangalore from Gerusoppa in Shimoga district. He was shifting his belongings in a truck, and family members were trailing the truck in a car. At Gollarahatti Gate, a tractor had been parked by the roadside after colliding with a Tata Sumo vehicle. As a measure of safety, stones had been lined up on the road by the side of the tractor, to warn vehicles to stay clear. As the car moved on one of these stones, the stone rebounded and hit the petrol tank, igniting fire.

Although Shivanandappa, who was driving the car, stopped the vehicle, he could not open the door. He broke open the windshield and saved himself. Two other women helped Nanjappa to come out. However, by the time they could save Somesh, who was sitting in the middle of the backseat, the car was engulfed by flames. Somesh was burnt alive in front of his helpless family members.

In addition to the car, cash amounting to Rs 50,000, and gold ornaments weighing about 400 grams were reduced into ashes in the incident, in addition to various valuables and documents. A case was registered in Honnavalli rural police station.