The loss of life of a 30-year-old auto-rickshaw driver who tried to save a monkey is an incident that has left the local community in shock. The accident happened on today morning, on the main road in front of the Government Guest House, Koratagere town.
The person who was killed is Mahendra Kumar, a Koratagere resident. Mahendra, who was known to his peers as a decent, hardworking man, met the fatal accident whilst driving his passenger auto-rickshaw toward Tumakuru.
The Fatal Chain of Events
Eyewitnesses and harrowing CCTV footage collected at a neighboring building said what happened had been a split-second decision done out of compassion. The Near-Miss: Mahendra was driving at a moderate speed when a monkey leaped from the thick foliage onto the middle of the road.
The Maneuver: In an effort to avoid killing the creature, Mahendra turned the vehicle sharply to the right. However, as he suddenly did it the entire three-wheeled motor wheel lost balance and fell in the middle of the roadway. The Collision: A speeding Innova car driving from the opposite direction (Tumakuru toward Koratagere) almost instantaneously crashed into the overturned auto-rickshaw.
Collision was so strong the auto-rickshaw was obliterated. Mahendra suffered severe damage to his head and was crushed within his cabin. He allegedly died on the spot before any medical assistance was provided.
Captured on Camera
CCTV footage is obviously showing the monkey leaping across the road and the auto-rickshaw flipping as the operator attempts to rescue it. The video has since gone viral on local social media groups where many mourn the driver who "given his life to save a life."
💔 A Hero’s Sacrifice: An auto driver in Tumakuru lost his life while trying to save a monkey on the road. A split-second act of kindness that ended in tragedy. Rest in peace, Mahendra. #Tumakuru #RealHero #humanity pic.twitter.com/GmhagD9hbb
— Saptashwa TV (@SaptashwaTV) February 26, 2026
The Koratagere Police arrived at the scene soon after the incident, cleared the wreckage to help clear the path and took the individual's body to the local government hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case has been entered at the Koratagere Police Station, and an investigation is currently underway into the speed of the oncoming car.
A Community in Grief
The death of Mahendra has added gloom to the Koratagere auto-rickshaw stand. "He was a very cautious driver. “It’s gutting that his kindness for an animal was a cause of his own death,” said a fellow driver. Local officials have also cited the incident as a reminder of the general caution in the vicinity of tree patches and guesthouses where monkeys and other wildlife commonly cross roads, bringing unpredictable traffic, according to the county’s local authorities.
