JOIN USA bit of boredom and love for golf took Yogesh Gowda to Hyderabad. But Yogesh, who was on the ill-fated bus from Bangalore to Hyderabad on Wednesday was lucky. He managed to escape the fire. He is now battling for life at a Hyderabad hospital.
According to his elder brother Thimme Gowda, Yogesh told doctors that he had a rear seat on the bus. As he realised that the bus was on fire, Yogesh rushed towards the front door. A woman seated in the middle row caught his hand in fear. By the time he freed himself from the woman, Yogesh had sustained burns.
Yogesh, a golf instructor at Hyderabad Golf Club, had come to Bangalore a week earlier, after being diagnosed with jaundice. Thimme Gowda told Deccan Herald that Yogesh used to come home for three days a month. “However, he was diagnosed with jaundice 10 days ago. A doctor who plays golf at Hyderabad Golf Club had observed Yogesh’s eyes turning yellow.”
Back home, his mother Bhagyamma took care of him. But Yogesh started feeling restless and decided to return to Hyderabad. He convinced his family that he would rest in Hyderabad.
He is undergoing treatment at DRDO Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. “Yogesh has suffered almost 45 per cent burns and his condition is critical. His respiratory tract was affected and he choked due to the smoke. He has been put on ventilator,” the doctors said.
Thimme Gowda said he had lost all hopes of Yogesh’s survival on Wednesday. “I did not tell my mother anything as I don’t want to scare her. He is not able to speak and has inhaled a lot of smoke. His breathing has to improve,” he said.
Yogesh’s family witnessed a few tragedies in the last few years. The family lost Krishnappa, Yogesh’s father, a couple of years ago. Before the family could recover, Rajiv, his elder sister’s husband, succumbed to cancer. “The family was in dire financial crisis. It was Yogesh, the youngest sibling, who instilled a sense of togetherness in our family,” Thimme Gowda said.
Yogesh is from Byadralli. He was a golf enthusiast even as a child. His dreams came true when he was placed with Bangalore Golf Club six years ago. He completed C category certification from National Golf Academy of India and was placed with Hyderabad Golf Club in January this year.
His family was unaware of the game. Yogesh learnt about the certifications, passed exams, completed a two-year course in golf training and was later placed as a coach at Touche Golf Academy in Bangalore Golf Club.
After completing another course, he was placed with Hyderabad Golf Club. “When he came home last week, he was saying that he planned to complete the B category certification next year and move ahead. I am not sure whether he will be able to play golf after recovering. I can’t even think of him without golf,” Thimme Gowda said.