BBMP officer falls from train, dies

A joint commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) died on the spot after falling from a moving train in the Tumakuru on Friday morning.

B E Govindaraju was standing near the door of a bogie of Arasikere-Bengaluru train and slipped below accidentally. He died on the spot, family sources said. He was residing at Tavarekere in the City. Govindaraju was not keeping well and had been to Shivamogga for treatment at a private hospital. The incident occurred when he was returning to Bengaluru.

The body was found on the tracks between Mallasandra and Tumakuru railway stations, and the Railway police sent a photograph of the body to their Bengaluru Rural counterparts for identification. The identity was established on Saturday, said Kantharaju of Tumakuru Railway police station. Govindaraju was recently promoted as the joint commissioner (East Division) of BBMP. Earlier, he was serving as additional director at APMC Market. The last rites were performed at Wilson Gardens crematorium in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, sources in the BBMP said that Govindaraju was on leave for the last 20 days and was admitted to a hospital recently. An official, who wished to be unnamed, said that Govindaraju was admitted at the ICU recently. He said Ajith Kumar Hegde has replaced Govindaraju as the joint commissioner. “Only a thorough inquiry will confirm the cause of death,” he said. A corporator said that Govindaraju had family problems.