Retired journalism professor of Bangalore University kills self, days after testing covid positive

News Network

November 9, 2020

Bengaluru, Nov 9: A retired professor from Bangalore University and former registrar of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) committed suicide in Bengaluru.

N S Ashok Kumar reportedly hanged himself from the ceiling of his residence at KAS Officers’ Colony, Mico Layout on Sunday morning.

Kumar, who was serving as registrar of Garden City University for the last two years, was earlier a professor at departments of communication and later electronic media at BU.

Police said the incident came to light on Sunday morning after his family members entered his bedroom around 6.30am.

The jurisdictional police were informed around 8.30am. Mico Layout police found a note, in which Kumar stated that he alone is responsible for his death and no one is behind it.

“He wrote a note in a few words in English. Kumar also requested that his eyes be donated and his body given away to a hospital. While his eyes have been donated, it was not possible to donate his body as it underwent autopsy,” said police.

Police have taken up a case of unnatural death. “Kumar is survived by his wife and two sons. He had tested positive for Covid-19. His family has no clue why he took the extreme step,” a police officer said.

Garden City varsity, where Kumar was registrar, said: “Our registrar Dr Ashok Kumar had tested positive for Covid-19 three weeks ago and was quarantined at home. We are saddened to know that he is no more. We deeply regret his demise.”

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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