Bengaluru, 25 Nov

A senior IAS officer, Mahantesh Bilagi, along with two of his family members, died in a major road accident near Gounahalli in Jewargi taluk, Kalaburagi district, on Monday.

Bilagi, who was serving as Managing Director of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited and previously held the post of Managing Director at Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited, was travelling from Vijayapura to Kalaburagi in an Innova car to attend a relative’s wedding.

Police said the vehicle suddenly lost control, leading to a “self-accident.” Bilagi suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a private hospital in Kalaburagi, where he later succumbed.

His brothers, Iranna Sirasangi, 62, and Shankar Plagi, 50, also died in the crash.

Visuals from the scene showed the car badly damaged, with huge dents and a shattered windshield. Authorities have registered a case, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.