Mangaluru: Congress stages protest over pothole death, attempts siege of NHAI office

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 12, 2025: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress staged a protest, march, and attempted siege of the NHAI office on Thursday against the poor condition of national highways, following the recent death of a woman who fell into a pothole while riding a two-wheeler.

Carrying a mock dead body on their shoulders, the protestors marched in procession, raised slogans against the central government, and expressed outrage. The march proceeded to the NHAI office near Nanthoor, where police had imposed tight security. When protestors attempted to storm the office, MLC Ivan D’Souza, NSUI president Suhan Alva, and other leaders were detained and taken away in police vehicles.

 

 

Speaking at the protest, MLC Ivan D’Souza alleged that despite the release of sufficient funds, repairs on national highways have not been carried out. He said negligence in maintaining highways has resulted in the loss of lives, and demanded that the central government provide ₹1 crore compensation to the families of victims who have died due to potholes.

District Congress president Harish Kumar criticized NHAI officials for claiming that repair works could not be undertaken due to non-removal of the Surathkal toll gate and lack of funds. He demanded immediate filling of potholes to prevent further loss of lives.

Led by Mithun Rai, protestors also threw the mock dead body into the NHAI premises in anger. Rai squarely blamed NHAI, the local MP, and BJP representatives for the woman’s death, calling it an unnatural death caused by irresponsibility. He reiterated the demand for ₹1 crore compensation to the victim’s family and vowed to continue the agitation until all potholes on the highway are repaired.

Former KPCC general secretary Padmaraj also criticized the silence of NHAI officials, MPs, and MLAs despite repeated warnings about potholes causing injuries and deaths. He accused BJP leaders of focusing on religious issues instead of public safety and condemned their failure to even visit the family of the deceased woman.

Congress leaders J.R. Lobo, Mamatha Gatti, Appi, Shalet Pinto, Shashidhar Hegde, Shahul Hameed, M.S. Mohammed, Anil Kumar, Praveen Chandra Alva, Vinayraj, Harinath, Bhaskar K., and Dennis D’Silva were among those who participated in the protest.