A 70-year-old man died when a cart rammed into spectators at a bullock cart race organised in the Government PU College grounds here on Sunday. The deceased, Thimmaiah, was a resident of Ambedkar Nagar.
The Ambedkar Eththinagadi Yuvakara Sangha had organised a State-level bullock cart race as part of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar.
As a precautionary measure, the organisers had warned the crowd to stay away from the western side of the ground. People had also been advised not to park their vehicles on that side.
All was well until the fifth round, when a pair of bullocks, disturbed by the loud cheering – whistling and clapping – from the crowd, veered off and ran towards a section of spectators. Most people ran helter-skelter, but Thimmaiah could not run and came under the wheels of the cart. He was severely injured and was immediately shifted to a hospital.
The race resumed and during the eighth round, another pair of bullocks changed path and ran into the parking area, damaging a few motorbikes.
Meanwhile, Thimmaiah had succumbed to his injuries. The race was called off immediately.
However, the organisers assured that the competition would be conducted on another day. In all, 44 bullock carts from various parts of the State took part in the race.
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