NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, JAN 11
Union Minister for Ayush and Defence Shripad Y Naik was injured and his wife Vijaya and personal assistant killed when their car overturned at Ankola in Uttara Kannada district on Monday night, police said. The minister’s condition was stable, they said.
Union minister @shripadynaik shripad naik and wife met with an accident in uttar Kannada district. Minister was traveling with his wife. Wife is unconscious and admitted to govt hospital minister is stable and conscious. pic.twitter.com/4wtgp9VEyA
— Aishwarya Kapoor (@aishkapoor) January 11, 2021
Police said Naik, along with his wife, personal assistant Deepak, his close confidante Sai Kiran, gunman and the driver were heading from Yallapur to Gokarna on Monday night.
On the way, the driver lost his control over the car near Hosakambi village in Ankola Taluk of Uttara Kannada and the vehicle overturned. “It was not a collision between vehicles. Prima facie it appears to be the case of the driver losing control of the car” a police officer said.
Shocked to know that the car which Union Minister Shripad Naik ji was travelling met with an accident in Uttara Kannada and the death of his wife. My heartfelt condolences on the tragic death of Smt Naik and prayers for the speedy recovery of Shri Naik and those injured.
— B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) January 11, 2021
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa, central ministers and party leaders expressed shock over the accident and condoled the demise of Naik’s wife.
Naik’s wife Vijaya and the aide were travelling with the minister when the vehicle met with an accident near Ankola in Uttar Kannada district, while he was returning to Goa from Dharmasthala in Karnataka.
Naik is being brought to Goa Medical College for further treatment, the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure proper medical treatment for the minister, sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Sawant about speedy medical treatment of Naik (68).