Senior IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi (55), the Managing Director of Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited (KSMCL), was killed along with two relatives in a catastrophic road accident on Tuesday evening near Gounahalli in Kalaburagi district. The three were travelling from Bengaluru to northern Karnataka to attend a family wedding when their high-speed vehicle suddenly veered off the highway, rammed into a concrete divider, and overturned multiple times, leaving the car mangled beyond recognition. Police confirmed that the impact was so violent that all three occupants — Bilagi, his cousin Shankar Bilagi, and relative Eranna Bilagi — died instantaneously at the scene.

The tragedy has plunged Karnataka’s administrative fraternity into mourning, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah describing Bilagi as an officer who rendered “honest and exemplary service” throughout his distinguished career. Having served as Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayats in multiple districts and later as District Collector, Bilagi earned widespread respect for his efficiency, transparency, and unwavering commitment to public welfare. “Wherever he worked, he left an indelible mark of dedication and administrative excellence,” the Chief Minister stated, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar termed the loss “irreplaceable,” recalling Bilagi as one of the state’s most competent and people-oriented bureaucrats. Colleagues across districts remembered him as a soft-spoken yet decisive administrator who tackled complex challenges with calm authority and integrity, often going beyond official duties to resolve long-pending public grievances. His sudden demise has created a void that senior officials say will be difficult to fill in Karnataka’s mineral and rural development sectors.

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Emergency responders and local police rushed to the accident site immediately after receiving alerts, but medical teams could only declare the trio brought dead. Preliminary investigations suggest excessive speed combined with a momentary loss of control may have caused the vehicle to slam into the divider. A detailed probe, including technical examination of the car and highway conditions, has been ordered to ascertain the exact circumstances.

Tributes continue to pour in from across the state’s bureaucracy and political spectrum, with many describing Tuesday’s crash as an irreparable personal and professional loss. The Karnataka government is expected to accord full state honours during Bilagi’s final rites, while colleagues have announced plans to institute an annual award in his memory to recognise honest and efficient civil service.

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