3 children drown as father’s bike falls into well

They were returning from Aero India when the children’s father, Thimmaraju, drove straight into the well. Thimmaraju (40) was taking a shortcut to Kenchappanakere through a mud road as the main Yelahanka Road was choked with traffic, the police said.

But his wife Vangeshwari (35) claimed that there was an ongoing family dispute and Thimmaraju had killed their children. Thimmaraju, a scrap dealer at Ananthapura Gate in Yelahanka New Town, told the police that he swam to safety, but could not save his children – Gokarna (13), Venkatesha (10) and daughter Kavitha (8). He said that he had taken them to the air show at the Yelahanka Airforce Station and was returning home around 1.30 pm when he fell into the well along with the children. He told the police that he could not see the open well.

“Thimmaraju claimed that he held onto the stone steps and saved himself, but the children died. Fire and emergency services were alerted and they recovered the bodies of his two sons. The search was still on to trace Kavitha’s body. The scooter too has been pulled out of the well,” the police said.

After the incident, Thimmaraju came straight to the police station and reported the incident, they said. Yelahanka New Town police, who questioned him, ruled out any foul play, a senior officer said.