K’taka minister helps rescue 7 of family

• Car carrying them fell into a tank
• Kimmane Ratnakar’s driver plunges into water
• Others join him and rescue all seven passengers

Shimoga (PTI): Playing the good samaritan, a Karnataka minister and his driver helped rescue a family of seven whose car fell into a tank near Beguvali in Shimoga district. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar was travelling from his home town Theerthahalli to Bangalore in his official vehicle escorted by a police van on Tuesday when a car overtook them on a rain-drenched road.

Shortly thereafter, Ratnakar said they noticed the same car carrying seven persons, including two women and a one-year child, sinking in a tank with one occupant flailing her arms from the window, at which they stopped their vehicle.Ratnakar said his driver K Chandru jumped into the tank and within minutes, he grabbed the two women who were holding a child and brought them ashore. The four men were also saved with help from others. Incidentally, none of the five personnel in the minister's police escort knew swimming.

The Minister said it was sheer luck of the travellers and praised his driver for his brave effort. Chandru said the almighty saved their lives through his hand. The Minister took all the seven persons who were slightly injured in his car to Theerthahlli and helped them get first aid at a government hospital.