A Sub-Inspector of Police, K. Venkanna (57), who was deployed on duty during the Ganesh immersion procession in Hyderabad, died on Wednesday evening after a speeding two-wheeler struck him in a hit-and-run incident near Hussain Sagar Lake. The officer, posted at Kothagudem II Town Police Station in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, had been specially mobilised to the city for the annual festival event.

How the Incident Unfolded

The collision occurred around 2 am on NTR Marg, a key road along the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake that serves as a primary route for idol immersion. Venkanna was crossing the road alongside another police official when a speeding motorcycle struck him, causing him to fall and sustain injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The bike rider fled the scene without stopping.

The entire sequence was captured on CCTV cameras in the area. Despite his injuries, Venkanna sought treatment at a private hospital and then personally walked into Saifabad Police Station to file a complaint. He subsequently called a friend and travelled to his village in Warangal district.

The Officer's Condition Deteriorates

Venkanna fell ill later in the afternoon and was rushed to MGM Hospital in Warangal, where doctors diagnosed him with a blood clot in the brain — a consequence of the earlier head trauma. Despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday evening. The delayed severity of his condition underscores how blunt head trauma can present life-threatening complications hours after the initial impact.

Investigation Under Way

A case has been registered at Saifabad Police Station, and investigators have already traced the motorcycle used in the hit-and-run. According to preliminary findings, the motorcyclist fled Hyderabad after the accident. Police are now pursuing the suspect across jurisdictions. Senior officials have expressed shock and grief over Venkanna's death and conveyed condolences to his family.

Scale of Ganesh Immersion Deployment

Venkanna's death comes amid one of the largest annual security mobilisations in Telangana. Approximately 30,000 police personnel from across the state have been deployed for the mammoth Ganesh immersion procession, which is scheduled for Friday. Officers like Venkanna are drawn from district postings to manage the massive crowds that converge on Hussain Sagar Lake each year — a duty that, as this incident tragically illustrates, carries its own risks.

The loss of an officer while on festival duty is expected to prompt calls for enhanced safety measures for police personnel deployed along high-traffic corridors during large public events.