Daijiworld Media Network - Kundpaur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 13: A well-known writer and philanthropist from Koteshwar near here lost his life in an unfortunate road accident at Pullottu in Shiradi village in Kadaba taluk. The accident happened at around 2.30 am on Thursday.

The writer in question, Koteshwar Sooryanarayana Rao, was coming to his hometown from Bengaluru in a bus. He had got down at Pullottu from for relieving himself when a car hit him. Rao was 82.

Sooryanarayana Rao, native of Koteshwar, had settled down at Bengaluru. Rao was returning to his bus after attending to nature's call when a car that was moving towards Dharmasthala from Hassan knocked him down. Rao, who was seriously injured, was taken to a hospital at Mangaluru. His end came at around 5 am on Thursday at district Wenlock Hospital at Mangaluru.

A felicitation programme had been organized at his hometown, Koteshwar, on Thursday. He was on his way to attend this programme when he passed away.

Rao, who was running Mahalaxmi Stores in D V G Road, Basavanagudi, was active in social fields too and used to do social service through his Ratna Trust. He had extended financial help to schools and temples in and around Koteshwar. Drinking water supply and library were the issues close to his heart and he was also active in spreading the popularity of Kundagannada, a Kannada dialect unique to some coastal districts.