JOIN USUmesh Kharvi, a former India and Karnataka junior cricketer, was killed
and his friend injured in a road accident past midnight on Saturday.
Umesh, 27, from Kharvi Keri, Kundapur, played age group cricket for Karnataka as a right-arm pacer and also represented India in the under-17 Asia Cup in 2004 held in Bangalore. Drunken driving coupled with rash and negligent driving caused the accident, said Vijayanagar traffic police.
Umesh, who was a part of the 30-man State Ranji probables in 2007, was working with the Finance Department of a private software firm on Marathalli Ring Road.
He was staying with two of his friends, both techies, at Gayatrinagar near Subramanyanagar. Mithun’s brother is Umesh’s close friend and he stays on 4th cross, Dattatreyanagar, Hosakerehalli, Banashakari 3rd stage. Mithun came to the City a week ago and was looking for a job, police said.
Mithun came to Umesh’s room two days ago and the duo travelled all over the City, visiting a few offices to check for vacancies. Umesh and his room-mates decided to throw a party for Mithun and his brother. Mithun joined Umesh, who played club cricket for Swastic Union, and his room-mates on Saturday evening and they all partied with drinks. Umesh and Mithun decided to go for a jolly ride around midnight. They did not heed the friends’ advice not to risk their safety since they were drunk, said the police.
Umesh wheeled out his Royal Enfield (KA 20 EQ 9410) and started riding with Mithun on pillion. He did not wear a helmet. Umesh entered West of Chord Road at 12 midnight and lost balance while speeding as he reached Shivanalli Junction and rode his bike on the pavement.
He kept moving for about 15 metres and just managed to avoid an electric pole, but ran out of luck as he crashed into a tree before Srinidhi Wines.
“The intensity of the accident was such that Umesh was tossed up in the air and his head banged against the tree trunk. He fell down and started bleeding profusely due to massive head injuries. The bike was totally damaged,” said a sub-inspector.
Mithun fell to the other end and was injured on his face and hands. A few local residents rushed them to a nearby private hospital where Umesh was declared brought dead. Mithun is undergoing treatment, the police said.