A tragic incident unfolded on the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) campus in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, where a promising young agriculture student lost his life after falling from a jackfruit tree. The student, Akash K, aged 24, was a final-year MSc Agriculture student known for his academic excellence and was among the top performers in his class. Originally from Amar Guddadahalli in Kudligi taluk of Vijayanagara district, he had moved to Bengaluru to pursue his dream career in agriculture and resided in the college hostel on campus.
The Incident
According to a complaint filed by his father Karibasajjayya, who is a farmer, Akash was in the hostel around midnight when his friends, Hassan Basha and Prashanth, suggested stepping out to pluck fruits from trees within the sprawling campus. The three friends left the hostel at approximately 12:30 am on Friday and first headed towards a jamun (black plum) tree. They spent nearly 45 minutes gathering fruit, filling a handbag before deciding to continue their midnight adventure.
At around 1:30 am, they reached a nearby jackfruit tree. As Akash climbed it in an attempt to pluck a jackfruit, tragedy struck. He allegedly lost his footing and fell from a height of more than 15 feet, crashing to the ground. The fall caused severe injuries to the left side of his head, shoulder, and abdomen. Shocked, his friends rushed him back towards the hostel and tried to administer first aid. As Akash writhed in pain and struggled with his injuries, Hassan and Prashanth realized the seriousness of the situation and called the 108 ambulance service.
Medical Response and Death
Akash was first taken to the government hospital in Yelahanka, where doctors provided emergency treatment. Given the severity of his injuries, he was referred to KC General Hospital in Malleswaram for advanced care. However, despite the doctors' efforts, he was declared dead at 3:24 am.
Family and Investigation
The loss has left his family devastated. Akash is survived by his parents and two younger sisters. His family told police that they did not suspect any foul play and believed the incident was an accident. However, they have requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. A senior police officer confirmed that Akash fell from a considerable height. Those familiar with campus life said some students occasionally venture out after midnight to pluck fruits from trees, hoping to avoid being noticed by college staff or security personnel. Yelahanka police have registered an unnatural death report and are investigating the matter.
