CM Revanth Reddy condoles SI Venkanna's death on duty
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy mourned the death of Kothagudem Sub-Inspector K. Venkanna, struck by an unidentified vehicle during Hyderabad Ganesh Immersion bandobast duty. He ordered strict legal action against the accused and assured government support for the bereaved family.
Key Takeaways
Venkanna of Kothagudem Two-Town police station died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle while on Ganesh Immersion bandobast duty in Hyderabad .
Revanth Reddy called the loss 'deeply painful' and described it as an irreplaceable void for both the family and the entire police department.
The Chief Minister directed Telangana DGP and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner to take the strictest legal action against the accused driver.
Revanth Reddy assured Venkanna's family that the government would extend all possible support.
The Hyderabad Ganesh Immersion at Tank Bund is one of India's largest idol-immersion events, requiring extensive police deployment along busy roads.
Investigations into the fleeing vehicle are ongoing; no compensation package has been officially announced yet.
A police sub-inspector struck down by a hit-and-run vehicle while guarding one of Hyderabad's largest annual festivals — Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy mourned the death of Sub-Inspector K. Venkanna of Kothagudem Two-Town police station on Thursday, 24 September 2026, calling it a profound loss for the entire police force.
Venkanna was deployed on bandobast — security arrangement duty — at the Hyderabad Ganesh Immersion procession, one of the city's most demanding crowd-management operations, when an unidentified vehicle struck him. He sustained serious injuries and succumbed while undergoing treatment.
A line-of-duty death at Tank Bund
The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that Revanth Reddy described the incident as 'atyanta badhakaram' — deeply painful. 'Losing one's life while serving with dedication to maintain law and order is tragic,' he stated. 'Venkanna's death is an irreplaceable loss not only to his family but to the entire police department.' The Hyderabad Ganesh Immersion, centred on Tank Bund, is among the largest idol-immersion events in India, drawing lakhs of devotees and requiring hundreds of police personnel for traffic and crowd control. Officers on bandobast duty routinely work long shifts along congested arterials, placing them in close proximity to moving vehicles throughout the night.Revanth Reddy's directives: strict action, family support
Revanth Reddy issued two clear directives. First, he ordered police officials — tagging Telangana DGP and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner — to take the 'strictest legal action' against the accused who drove recklessly and caused the accident. Second, he assured Venkanna's family that the government would stand by them 'in every possible way.' He also offered prayers for the peace of Venkanna's soul. In Telangana, state governments have historically announced ex-gratia payments and welfare measures for the families of police personnel who die in the line of duty. The exact quantum of any compensation package has not yet been officially disclosed. For the Telangana Police force, the loss carries a sharper weight: Venkanna was not felled by a criminal act in the conventional sense but by a vehicle on the very road he was guarding — a reminder of the quiet danger embedded in routine festival duty. The investigation into the fleeing vehicle remains active. Whether the accused is identified and prosecuted swiftly will be the measure by which the Chief Minister's directive is judged.Point of View
Reflecting a Congress government keenly aware that police welfare is a potent issue with the force and the wider electorate. The assurance of family support, while unquantified, follows a Telangana precedent of ex-gratia payments and pension benefits for line-of-duty deaths. How quickly the hit-and-run accused is apprehended will determine whether this tribute translates into accountability.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is SI K. Venkanna and how did he die?
K. Venkanna was a Sub-Inspector at Kothagudem Two-Town police station in Telangana who was fatally struck by an unidentified vehicle while on bandobast duty during the Hyderabad Ganesh Immersion on 24 September 2026. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
What did CM Revanth Reddy say about SI Venkanna's death?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called the death deeply painful and said it was an irreplaceable loss for both the family and the entire police force. He offered prayers for Venkanna's soul and assured the family of full government support.
What action has been ordered against the accused driver?
CM Revanth Reddy directed senior police officials, including the Telangana DGP and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner, to take the strictest legal action against the accused who drove recklessly and caused the fatal accident.
What is Ganesh Immersion bandobast duty in Hyderabad?
Bandobast refers to police security deployment. During Hyderabad's Ganesh Immersion — one of India's largest such events held at Tank Bund — hundreds of officers are deployed for crowd and traffic management, often working overnight along congested roads.
Will SI Venkanna's family receive government compensation?
CM Revanth Reddy assured the family of all possible government support, consistent with Telangana's practice of providing ex-gratia and welfare benefits to families of police personnel who die in the line of duty. The exact compensation amount has not yet been officially announced.
