Dharwad :In a tragic road accident, a Lokayukta Inspector was burnt alive after his car rammed into a road divider and caught fire on the outskirts of Annigeri town in Dharwad district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Panchakshari Salimath, who was serving as a Lokayukta Inspector in Haveri. According to police, Salimath was travelling alone in his i20 car and was heading towards Gadag to visit his family when the incident occurred.
Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle lost control at high speed, hit the divider, and immediately caught fire. Within moments, the flames engulfed the entire vehicle, leaving the officer trapped inside. Unable to unlock the door and escape, Salimath was charred to death.
Local residents who witnessed the accident alerted the Annigeri police and the fire brigade. Firefighters rushed to the spot and attempted to douse the flames, but the blaze had already consumed the vehicle and the inspector by the time they arrived.
Police said the impact of the collision was severe, and the vehicle burst into flames almost instantly, giving the victim no time to flee. The charred remains have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the mishap.
This tragic incident comes just days after senior Karnataka IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi died in a car accident, raising concerns over back-to-back fatal road mishaps involving government officials in the state.
Locals and colleagues have expressed deep shock over Salimath’s untimely death, describing him as a sincere and dedicated officer. The Lokayukta department is expected to issue an official statement soon.
Police have registered a case and are examining CCTV footage from the area to determine whether factors such as overspeeding or mechanical failure contributed to the accident.
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