'Official apathy' claims rider's life

Lack of safety measures like temporary barricades or safety net around an open under-construction drain has the claimed the life of a two-wheeler rider in the city.

The deceased is identified as Tejas, 32, son of Kariyappa, a resident of Bogadi second stage. He met his tragic end, after he allegedly rode his vehicle into a huge open drain, which was under construction, on Chamaraja Double Road in the intervening hours of Saturday and Sunday.

He was working at a private company and was returning home from work, when the incident occurred, according to KR traffic police, who have registered a case. The body of Tejas along with the motorbike was found on Sunday morning when a morning stroller followed the beep noise of the bike indicator to the drain.

Following the incident, members of Mysore Rakshana Vedike staged a snap stir demanding Rs 25 lakh compensation to the next of the kin of deceased. The work on drain was taken up along with concretisation (cement road) works of Chamaraja Double road from Basaveshwara Circle to Ramaswamy Circle.

Tejas was returning home during midnight hours, when he came across the mound of sand before the drain. Unaware of the drain below, Tejas is suspected to have driven on the mound only to land straight into the drain. He is suspected to have died due to internal injuries.

Absence of safety measures like temporary barricades or safety net (towards the road) are said to be the main reason that led to the tragic incident, according to Umesh, brother of Tejas, who has lodged a complaint at K R Police station.

Following his complaint, a case has been booked against PWD, MCC and also the contractor.