Rash driving blamed for accident that claimed IAS officer's life in Karnataka

Jewargi (Kalaburagi district): The police have cited overspeeding and unsafe driving as the cause of the horrific accident that occurred on the outskirts of Jewargi town in the district on Tuesday, which claimed four lives, including that of IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi.

Acting on a complaint filed by Bilagi’s relative Basavaraj Kamaratagi, an FIR has been registered against Arokya Anthony Raj, the driver of the car in which the IAS officer was travelling, along with his relatives. A case has been filed under Sections 281, 125 (A), 125 (B) and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita.

The car involved in the accident rammed into a bridge on the side of the road and was sent cartwheeled. While two of Bilagi’s relatives died on the spot, the IAS officer breathed his last in the hospital. The driver too sustained severe injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Iranna Shirasangi, who was injured in the accident, also died here on Wednesday morning. He failed to respond to the treatment after two surgeries, Manur Multispeciality Hospital director
Dr Farooq Manur said.

Doctors said that the condition of the car driver Anthony Raj, who has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kalaburagi, is stable. They said that the bones on both sides of his chest have been fractured.

SP Adduru Srinivasulu and the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory team, inspected the accident spot on Wednesday. He said that the cause of the accident and the speed of the vehicle will be ascertained only after obtaining a forensic science lab report. The last rites of Bilagi were performed at his plantation at Ramdurg with full state honours on Wednesday.