Daijiworld Media Network – Mudigere(DC)

Mudigere, Feb 18: Four persons from a family from Dakshina Kannada (DK) district lost their lives after the car in which they were travelling plunged down into an fifty-foot deep gorge. The incident happened near Hirebail in Kalasa revenue division of Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, after the driver of the car lost control over the vehicle on Monday February 18.

Those who were killed in the accident have been identified as Rajeev Rai (63), resident of Hennadka in Barya village near Uppinangady, his wife, Mamatha Rai (55), Vishwanath Rai (65), and wife, Pushpavathi (58) from Panolibail in Bantwal taluk. Rajeev Rai and Vishwanath Rai were siblings. Both of them had retired after serving Indian Army in the past.

Vishwanath Rai, after retirement, had served a bank at Mangaluru as an employee. After retiring from the bank, he was pursuing agriculture in Bollayi, Sajipamunnur village in Bantwal taluk. His wife was a home maker. The couple has left behind two daughters.

Rajeev Rai had served as teacher after retirement from army. He retired three years back as teacher of Piriyadka higher primary school at Puttur. He too took to agriculture at Uppinangady thereafter. His wife, Mamatha, was a housewife. The couple is survived by two daughters and a son.

Vishwanath Rai was at the wheels when the tragedy happened. Sanjeev Shetty from B C Road Sanchayagiri, who was seated in the front seat of the car, survived with serious injuries. He stands admitted into a hospital at Kalasa.

Saumya, daughter of a sister of the deceased brothers, and her husband, Rajeev Rai, live in Balehole, Kalasa. The couple had arranged for Yakshagana performance by Dharmasthala Mela on Monday night in the premises of Lord Chennakeshava temple, Balehole. The brothers were going to Balehole to witness the Yakshagana performance in a newly acquired WagonR car. They had travelled by Charmadi ghat and were moving on Kottigehara-Kalasa Road. When negotiating a road bend inside a coffee plantation in an inner road at Hirebail Halumara, the driver lost control over the car after which the car directly dived into an 80-feet gorge.

As soon as the information reached them, Kalasa police with the support of the local people, brought out the mortal remains from the gorge with great difficulty. A case about the accident was registered in Kalasa police station.