Union Minister Shripad Naik injured, wife and PA dead after road accident in Karnataka

Minister of State for Defence and AYUSH Shripad Naik was injured while his wife Vijaya Naik (55) and personal assistant died when the SUV they were travelling in met with an accident near Hillur-Hosakambi village in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka on Monday night.

According to the local police, Naik’s wife suffered head injuries and died while being brought to a private hospital in Ankola. The minister’s personal assistant Deepak died at the government hospital in Ankola.

The condition of the minister is said to be stable and he has been shifted to the Goa Medical College after preliminary treatment in Ankola.

Ayush Minister Shripad Naik has met with an accident near Ankola in Uttara Kannada dist of Karnataka. Driver lost control over the car. Minister is said to very critical but unfortunately his wife died on the spot @ABPNews @abpmajhatv pic.twitter.com/p4W0FzD2UW

— Ganesh Thakur (@7_ganesh) January 11, 2021

Naik and four of his family members had visited Gante Ganapati temple in Yellapur on Monday morning for a pooja and proceeded to Gokarna in Uttara Kannada around 7 pm on Monday. Preliminary investigation, the police sources said, suggested that the driver lost control over the vehicle and the car turned upside down.

Some of the injured were shifted in the police vehicles to the hospitals in Ankola as their condition was very serious. Ankola police have registered a case.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure proper arrangements for Naik’s treatment in Goa. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too requested Sawant to provide best treatment, and if need arises, fly Naik to Delhi. Rajnath also tweeted wishing for the minister’s speedy recovery.

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री श्री श्रीपद नाइक के सड़क दुर्घटना में घायल होने के समाचार से मैं स्तब्ध और अत्यंत दुखी हूँ।गोवा के मुख्यमंत्री श्री प्रमोद सावंत से मेरी बातचीत हुई है।श्रीपदजी के इलाज का समुचित प्रबंध राज्य सरकार कर रही है। ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि श्रीपदजी जल्दी स्वस्थ हों।

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 11, 2021

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa condoled the death of Ayush Minister’s wife.

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

“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,” he wrote on Twitter.