What Happened in the K'taka Ganesh Visarjan Tragedy?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tragic accident during Ganesh Visarjan in Karnataka.
- Prime Minister Modi announced compensation for victims' families.
- Importance of road safety highlighted by the incident.
- Community response underscores the need for support systems.
- Government taking measures to assist affected families.
Bengaluru, Sep 13 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow on Saturday regarding the devastating event where a truck crashed into the Ganesh Visarjan procession, resulting in the loss of nine lives.
The incident in Hassan, Karnataka, is truly heartbreaking. During this sorrowful time, my thoughts are with the grieving families, and I wish a swift recovery for the injured,” the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated via social media platform X.
An ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the kin of each deceased. Those injured in the incident will receive Rs 50,000, the announcement added.
In light of this tragic event, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and District In-charge Minister Krishna Byre Gowda have instructed priority assistance for the families of the victims and the injured. Following their guidance, the district administration is executing all essential measures through the night, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
The CMO further mentioned, “Since the incident occurred, teams of officials and medical professionals have been in constant communication, with In-charge Minister Krishna Byre Gowda actively overseeing the situation.”
“Officials maintained ongoing contact with the families affected and ensured that post-mortem examinations were carried out overnight. Without delay, the doctors' team completed the post-mortem and legal formalities during the night, returning the bodies to the family members,” it added.
The district medical officers took charge of the injured, organizing the necessary medical staff. Comprehensive and advanced medical care is being provided, as stated by the CMO.
The In-charge Minister is consistently in touch with the District Commissioner and the District Medical Officer, visiting hospitals and directly engaging with the families of the deceased, as outlined by the CMO.
According to police reports, during the Ganesh immersion at Mosale Hosahalli, the truck driver, due to excessive speed and negligent driving, crashed into the crowd participating in the procession.
Witnesses reported participants in the procession included residents from Mosale Hosahalli, Hirehalli, and nearby villages, along with students from local college hostels.
The driver, identified as Bhuvanesh, was hospitalized after being pulled from the vehicle and assaulted by the crowd.
The truck initially collided with a motorcycle, then struck a divider, before running over the Ganesh Visarjan crowd. Four individuals died instantly, while five others succumbed to injuries at various hospitals. Most of the nine individuals who lost their lives were students, police confirmed.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his condolences for the tragic event and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh and free medical treatment for the injured.