Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Jul 29: In a tragic incident, a youngster was killed after he fell while boarding a government bus at Ambagilu in Uppunda here on Friday July 29.
The deceased has been identified as Raghavendra Shetty (21), son of Sadashiva and Savitri Shetty from Uppanda.
Raghavendra was a student of third year BCom at BB Hegde College in Kundapur.
On Friday, he was about to board a government bus from Uppanda to go to college, when he missed his footing and fell on the road. Just at that moment, a private bus moving on the same side ran over him, killing him on the spot.
It is said that there were over 50 students in the KSRTC bus that was plyng from Bhatkal towards Kundapur. Raghavendra was trying to board it at the bus stop at Uppunda, but even before he could get in, the driver started the vehicle and moved forward, sources said. Raghavendra lost balance and fell out of the bus.
Raghavendra who sustained grievous head injuries on being hit by the private bus was rushed to a hospital in Kundapur, but breathed his last on the way.
Students angry
As soon as news of the accident spread, angry students and locals gathered in hundreds at the accident spot and blocked the traffic in protest. The police found it difficult to calm down the agitated students. Many of the students also gathered in front of the government hospital in Kundapur and protested.
As students' protests intensified in Uppunda and Kundapur, the police in these two places beefed up the security to prevent any untoward incident. A KSRP squad were deployed outside the Kundapur government hospital and police personnel were stationed near the government bus stand.
Kundapur circle inspector Diwakar P M and SI Nasir Hussain and other police personnel led by Kundapur DySP Praveen Nayak have camped at the spot. Udupi SP Annamalai also arrived to pacify the students.
Byndoor police have registered a case.
Compensation for bereaved family
Meanwhile, Kundapur Education Society which runs the BB Hegde College, of which Raghavendra was a student, announced a compensation of Rs 2.5 lac to the bereaved family. President of the Society also said that a holiday has been declared for the college as a mark of respect.
Raghavendra was a talented and intelligent student. His father runs a business in Kalaburagi. He leaves behind his parents and a sister.