MANGALURU: A 22-year-old youth died during a mosaru kudike (dahi handi) programme in Belthangady town to mark Janmashtami on Sunday. Shishir Kumar of Punjalakatte, who was atop the human pyramid, slipped and fell sustaining serious head and neck injuries. He later died in hospital on Monday noon. The height of the handi was 24 feet, in violation of the recent Supreme Court directive restricting the height to 20 feet.
Shishir, who was working with Robert Bosch, an engineering solutions company in Bengaluru, had come home on leave. He was a regular in dahi handi celebrations and due to his lean frame, he was chosen to climb atop the pyramid.
On Sunday, Shishir clung to the scaffolding even as the human pyramid dispersed trying to break the pots. But he lost his grip on the pole and fell to the ground. He was rushed to the government hospital in Belthangady and later shifted to a private hospital in city. But he succumbed to injuries the next day. Police alleged that organisers did not take any precautionary measures. His father P M Prabhakar Poojary and friends recalled that Shishir was a talented youth who took part in mimicry, skit, drama and other cultural activities. After his graduation Shishir had taken up the job in Bengaluru.