Karwar: Four of a Family from Suratkal meet Tragic Death in Accident: Miraculous Escape for Two Others
Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)
Karwar, Apr 2: Ramanath Rao (68), who resigned from Syndicate Bank and started Ratna Borewells, the first of its kind in the region, in Suratkal, breathed his last along with his wife Usha Rao (63), daughter Saujanya Rao(26) and grand daughter Shreya (6), after the car in which the family was travelling met with a gory accident near here. Rao's son Rajesh and grandson Chinmaya miraculously escaped with minor injuries in the accident that occured on Wednesday April 1. They are recuperating in a hospital in Manipal.
Ramanath Rao, Usha Rao, Saujanya and Shreya
Ramanath Rao had been on a visit to the house of a boy from Goa, with whom he wanted to conduct the marriage of his daughter Saujanya. The family started back to Suratkal on the morning of Wednesday. The accident occurred as the one of the rear tyres of the car ruptured at around 1.10 pm at Jadigadde near Todur, 17 kms away from here, on national highway 17.
The car, which lost its velocity and balance, swerved to the roadside and hit a tree there before coming to a stop after tumbling into the field. The car was turned into a mound of mangled metal because of the impact. Shreya died on the spot. Rao and three others died on way to hospital. Karnataka State Fisheries Development Corporation chairman Ramachander Baikampady who was travelling by the same road about 25 minutes after the accident, saw the car and the victims and called the ambulance service.
Eyewitness accounts said, the ambulance functioning under the 'Arogya Kavacha' scheme refused to carry the mortal remains of the girl who died on the spot, putting forth a weird logic that it is meant to carry only those who are in serious condition and not the dead bodies. As a result, the body remained at the spot till 3 pm.
Engagement for Saujanya's marriage was to take place on April 20 and the marriage was scheduled for June 4. She was a graduate and had resigned from her job in a private concern in view of the forthcoming marriage. Prakash Rao, son of Ramanath Rao, had lost his life in an accident at Mukka near Suratkal about three years ago. Ramanath Rao is survived by two sons and two daughters.
Rao, who resigned from Syndicate Bank and started Ratna Borewells in 1980, was an avid Yakshagana enthusiast. He regularly organized Tala Maddale programmes in Suratkal region, and conducted Talamaddale invariably on the death anniversary of his mother without fail. He himself was a Yakshagana artiste and Arthadhari. Various articles written by him on Yakshagana had been published by publications. He was the convener and trustee of Sheni Trust and sponsored the annuial Sheni Award.
Usha Rao from Kasargod, was a retired Syndicate Bank employee. Shreya and Chinmay, children of Shabarish, Rao's elder son, had come to Suratkal to spend holidays in the company of their grand parents. Shreya was a brilliant student who got several awards in Yakshagana, Bharatnatyam etc. Younger son of Rao, Rajesh, is managing business in Suratkal.
Superintendent of police Raman Gupta, circle inspector Antony John, sub-inspector Channesh etc., visited the spot. The news of the tragic accident has plunged Suratkal in deep grief, particularly so, as Ramanath Rao was a person who was friendly with one and all and very helpful.