Mandya, Feb. 4 -- Committee formed in August 2023 to study canal safety measures, but report status unknown

While officials and elected representatives conveniently ignored the 2018 Kanaganamaradi (Pandavapura taluk) bus accident that claimed 30 lives when a speeding bus plunged into the Visveswaraya Canal (VC), the Mandya Deputy Commissioner (DC), Dr. Kumara formed a committee in August 2023 to oversee the construction and maintenance of retaining walls or crash barriers along canals, including the VC Canal and lake bunds in the district.

The committee's goal was to prevent similar incidents in future.

Following this, the DC directed officials managing the lakes and canals to urgently assess the need for repairing crash barriers and t...