Bengaluru, Nov 8 (PTI): Massive search operations continued for the second day today for bodies of the two stunt men who had drowned after jumping from a helicopter into a reservoir near here during filming of an action sequence for a Kannada film.
National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Fire department, locals and scuba drivers are searching for stunt men Anil and Uday, who had drowned yesterday at Tippagondanahalli lake in neighbouring Ramanagara district. Rescue teams have complained about the depth and poor visibility due to pollutants in the water, affecting the operation.
Anil and Uday, along with popular actor Duniya Vijay were performing the stunt to shoot the climax of the film "Maastigudi", for which they had to jump off from the helicopter into the water, but it went awry. The stunt men duo, who were reportedly not equipped with swimming skills, had drowned as the faulty rescue boat could not reach them on time, while Vijay was rescued by a fisher man on his country boat.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the incident a "clear act of negligence". He said "the makers of the film should take the responsibility as it was their duty to take precautionary measure." Meanwhile, police have registered a criminal case against those responsible for the incident.
Stating that adequate precautionary measures were not taken before performing the stunt, leading to loss of lives, senior police officials said a criminal case has been registered at Tavarekere police station. They said those responsible like the director, producer, stunt master and others would face an inquiry.
On the other hand, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce said it would take action against those responsible. "Action has to be taken, we will take. We will have to put an end to such acts of negligence and arrogance...mistake is a mistake and because of our mistake we have lost these lives," Chamber President Sa Ra Govindu told reporters here.
He said the entire film industry would sit together in a couple of days and decide on what kind of action should be taken against whom.
Earlier news
Bengaluru: Death of artistes during shooting - police to file criminal case
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 8: The city police have taken the incident in which two artistes lost their lives during the shooting for Kannada film, 'Mastigudi' on Monday seriously. They have treated it as a result of negligence and recklessness on the part of the film unit and therefore, decided to file criminal case against the entire team. A diesel boat which was requisitioned to rescue the artistes had failed to start and hence failed to save the drowning men.
Search for the bodies of the artistes is on by fire brigade personnel, national disaster response force, local divers and others, who are searching for the bodies of Anil and Uday but their efforts have not succeeded so far. Scuba divers have been looking for the bodies, and search is also being conducted by fixing waterproof cameras in pipes. It is said that Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board had not given permission for the aerial adventure. In its conditional permission, it had also barred shooting from taking place in banned areas of the reservoir, it is gathered.
City central zone inspector general of police, Seemant Kumar Singh, said that he has asked superintendent of police of Ramanagara district to file case of negligence under section 3 04 A. It is gathered that a case has been registered in Kamalanagar police station.
A large number of artistes, technicians, and general public have been visiting the reservoir where the artistes lost their lives.