CM's convoy vehicle knocks down man near Mangalore

A pedestrian was killed when District incharge Minister Krishna Palemar’s escort vehicle (part of the chief minister’s convoy) knocked him down, at Panambur on Tuesday morning.

According to the police, the dead has been identified as Chandrahas, 40, a resident of Kambla Padavu near Mudipu on the outskirts of Mangalore. He was working as a labourer at a transport company. 

The body was handed over to his family after the post-mortem at a private hospital, said the Panambur police who have registered a case. It is said that the incident occurred when Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was returning to the helipad after visiting the Meenakaliya temple.

Chandrahas was crossing the road in a hurry in front of Panambur Port Hospital, on his way to work, when the accident occurred.

“The chief minister was leaving for Devaragundha to take part in a ‘kola.’  Our vehicle was the 15th from that the chief minister’s. We were travelling at a speed of 60 kmph. I could not control the speed of the vehicle when I saw him crossing the road. I parked the vehicle on the roadside and immediately rushed him to the hospital,” said driver Arun Alva.

Victim, a BJP worker
Chandrahas is the son of Thaniyappa Moolya and is survived by his wife and son Sudarshan, 11.

“Chandrahas used to leave home for work at 6 am and return home at 8 pm. He was also a BJP worker and was actively involved in campaigning in the last Assembly elections,” said a family member.  

He said: “None of the elected representatives except the Zilla Panchayat member visited us. We had to bear the expenses of the postmortem ourselves.”  Palemar said: “The incident has hurt me. A compensation of Rs one lakh will be paid to the family of Chandrahas. I will speak to the chief minister and try to provide additional compensation.”