DHARWAD, 6 DEC 

Tragedy struck in Dharwad as Lokayukta Inspector CPC Panchakshari Salimath was burnt alive in a horrific car accident. The incident occurred on the Gadag-Hubballi highway, near the Arera bridge, close to Bhadrapur, at approximately 7.30pm.

Salimath was driving his i20 car when it collided with a divider, leading to an intense fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes. According to initial police reports, a spark from a potential petrol leakage caused the flames to erupt quickly. 

"The vehicle caught fire within seconds, and within a few minutes, it was entirely burnt," a police spokesperson stated.

The inspector was reportedly en route to Gadag to visit his family when the crash occurred. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the impact of the collision prevented him from escaping the burning car. Firefighters, who responded swiftly to the scene, extinguished the fire; however, Salimath was unable to survive.

The charred remains inside the vehicle made identification challenging. Eventually, Salimath's family recognised him by the bracelet he was wearing at the time of the accident. Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya visited the site and expressed condolences.

This incident followed closely on the heels of the death of IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi in a separate road accident. The Annigeri Police Station is now handling the investigation.