Sindhuja K

CHIKKAMAGALURU: A 23-year-old engineering graduate who was set to take up her first job died after her father, riding a two-wheeler, tried to negotiate a pothole on Chikkamagaluru-Kadur road on Sunday.

Sindhuja K , who recently completed computer science engineering from a college in Tiptur, Tumakuru district, was to join a Bengaluru-based company this month. She was in the process of getting her passport, as part of the joining process, when the accident cl aimed her life.

The girl's death led to huge protests by citizens, who were more furious with police for booking her father for rash and negligent driving resulting in the accident. They launched an online campaign - 'Fill potholes, save lives' - urging the government to take concrete steps. District minister CT R avi was at the receiving end.

The accident occurred at Danduramakki, near the city, when Sindhuja and her father Kumarappa AG were going to the police station for passport verification around Sunday noon. Police said 52-year-old Kumarappa tried to avoid a pothole and applied brakes. The duo fell and Sindhuja was grievously injured. She was taken to hospital where doctors advised the family to take her to Hassan. The girl died before she was shifted into an ambulance, a police officer said.

The girl's pare nts live in Kuppenahalli in Chikkamagaluru . Kumarappa, who's from Ajjampura near Tarikere, is working with the fire and emergency services department.

District police chief Harish Pandey told TOI the girl's parents lodged a complaint about the potholed road. Ravi blamed delay in road repair. The district Congress unit staged a protest, urging the governmen t and National Highways Authority of India to repair the ravaged roads.

