Former MLA Gopal Bhandary passes away while travelling in bus from B’luru to Mangaluru

Former Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary passed away while travelling alone in a multi-axle bus from Bengaluru to Mangaluru on Thursday.

He passed away three days before his 67th birthday. Travelling alone in a KSRTC bus from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, the former Congress MLA alighted from the bus when it stopped for a coffee break near KB Cross around 4:30 pm. 

However, the bus driver Sunil found the two-time MLA slumped on the seat of the bus when it reached the main KSRTC station in Bejai in Mangaluru at around 10:15 pm, reported the Times of India. 

He had begun his journey at 2 pm from Benglauru. After he did not alight from the bus, he was rushed to Wenlock Hospital in the city. However, hospital authorities said he was brought dead. 

Veerappa Moily and former Mangaluru MLA JR Lobo visited the hospital on Thursday night. 

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil confirmed the death in a statement issued to the media.

Gopal Bhandary was born on July 7, 1952 and represented the Karkala constituency in Udupi district from 1999 to 2004 and 2008 to 2013. In 2008, he defeated V Sunil Kumar of the BJP by a margin of 1,537 votes.

Deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of Congress leader and Former Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandari. His commitment towards people shall always be remembered.

My condolences to his family members, well-wishers & followers. pic.twitter.com/ZJ8jdVfrph

— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) July 5, 2019

My heartfelt shock and grief over the sad demise of Sri Gopal Bhandary ex mla . A very honest leader always thought of helping the downtrodden and a great orator. My condolences to his family and to all who know him.

— Pramod Madhwaraj (@PMadhwaraj) July 5, 2019