A man was killed and 13 others, including three children, were injured when a makeshift spectators’ gallery collapsed at a floodlit kabaddi tournament at Mallanayakanakatte village in Mandya district on Saturday night.
The deceased was identified as Papannachari, aged around 50. The injured were undergoing treatment at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS).
Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who is also the Minister in charge of Mandya district, said the organisers of the Kabaddi tournament had obtained permission from the police, but the gallery erected for the occasion was not strong enough to support a large number of people who had gathered to watch the event.
The Minister said that instructions had been issued to the MIMS authorities to provide free medical treatment to all the injured and ensure that they were properly looked after until their discharge. The injured also include the daughter of the deceased Papannachari.
Describing Mr. Papannachari’s death as ‘unfortunate’, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said he would look into the possibility of providing his next of kin with compensation from the government.
The Minister paid his last respects to the deceased at the MIMS mortuary on Sunday.
Earlier, MLA for Melkote Darshan Puttannaiah visited the hospital and enquired about their condition. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy described the incident as “unfortunate”.
Mr. Kumaraswamy, who is also the MP for Mandya, said his party leaders had informed him that Mr. Papannachari had lost his life while trying to save the lives of others. He hoped that God would give his family members the strength to bear the loss. He also wished for the early recovery of the injured.
Former Minister and JD(S) leader C.S. Puttaraju visited the MIMS to enquire about the condition of the children and urged the State government to provide compensation for the family of Mr. Papannachari.
Published – April 27, 2025 06:04 pm IST
