Khammam: An engineering graduate named Rachabandi Mallikarjuna, 24, died while playing kabaddi at Budidampadu in Khammam district.
Mallikarjuna had completed B.Tech and was searching for a job. He used to participate in programmes organised in Ganesh Chathurthi pandals.
The Ganesh Festival Committee of the village organised a kabadi match on Wednesday night and four teams enrolled. The games were held till midnight. Mallikarjuna was a member of the fourth team. He headed to the rival area thrice, but collapsed during the third raid.
Locals and other players tried to make him conscious. He died on the way while being shifted to the hospital. Gloom descended on Budidampadu after Mallikarjuna's death. Budidampadu was celebrating Ganesh Nava Ratrulu and the committee had been organising a new programme every day.
Budidampadu sarpanch Meera Saheb said the man died due to cardiac arrest. “We were shocked at the incident and are trying to console his family.”
Mallikarjuna's father Rachabandi Nagulu, a farmer, had three children. Mallikarjuna was his second son. Nagulu said, “We never expected this. We are unlucky.” A case was filed regarding the incident based on a complaint by Nagulu.
