ACCIDENTS GALLORE ON THE FIRST JANUARY;

A youth died on the spot, few others were injured grievously in three road accidents reported from the night of December 31st.

A graduate Ballachanda Vipin Medappa died on the spot in a grievous accident today as his car hit a roadside stone post and bashed against a tree in the ditch. Medappa lost control of the Esteem car he was driving due to thick mist in the morning and drove to death around 6.30 A.M at Kadnur near Virajpet. The car was totally damaged killing Vipin on the spot. The onlookers had to cut open the crumbled metal to remove the body. The body was cremated at his native place, Arji village. Vipin was living in Bangalore and had come to Kodagu . He attended a new years party yesterday night at Madikeri and was traveling to his native in the morning.

In another incident, A Ceilo car driven by an estate manager at Sunticoppa bashed against roadside shops, telephone pole and a bund yesterday night and mangled. The inmates K.T.Chengappa and Yashodhar were badly injured and shifted to Madikeri hospital.

Two motorcyclists, claiming to be the sons of judges went berserk yesterday night and put the life of many pedestrians at risk. Driving recklessly under the influence of alcohol at Madikeri, the duo dived into drainage and received injuries. Onlookers lifted them from the drainage. Police took the bike to custody and later released it.