DAVANAGERE: A total of 7 people died for various reasons in a single day in Hosa Kundawad village on the outskirts of Davanagere on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Along with the elderly, a 3-day-old infant also died of breathing problems. Residents of the village were worried about this incident and the lack of space for cremating bodies in the village.Some residents staged a protest against the authorities, condemning the lack of space for a graveyard.
According to villagers, Mariyakka, 70, Santosh, 30, Earamma, 60, Sunil, 25, Shantamma, 65, and Bheemakka, 70, and a three-day-old infant died in the village on the same day. The reasons for the deaths of all these victims are different. Meanwhile, the villagers panicked about these deaths. Health officials visited the village and inspected the situation. Hosa Kundawad falls under the 43rd ward of Davanagere City Corporation (DCC).
Four persons died due to age-related issues, while two ended their lives due to alcohol addiction. The three-day-old infant died following a premature delivery. “Our officials visited the spot and inspected it,” shared DHO Shanmukhappa.
“This is the first time we have witnessed 7 deaths in a single day. Many people are expressing concerns regarding the situation. Meanwhile, we recently celebrated Maari Habba after 13 years without including the residents of Hale Kundawad. This angered them, and they are not allowing Hosa Kundawad villagers to perform cremation in their graveyard. Authorities should intervene,” a villager demanded.
Tahsildar Ashwath MB convinced the protesting villagers and assured them that they could perform cremation at the available 3-acre graveyard in Hale Kundawad. “I will initiate action if anyone opposes this. Moreover, additional land for the graveyard is being identified. It will be finalised within a month. People need not worry about this. However, people need not panic because of 7 people’s death. They died due to different reasons,” he clarified.