Destined to die

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 28. ``As flies to wanton boys are we to gods; they kills us for their sport.'' These words of Shakespeare sum up the tragic end of the 16-year-old girl, who was among the 11 persons killed in a road accident near Maddur in Mandya District early on Saturday.

She came to Bangalore to escape from death. But perhaps destiny willed otherwise. Rukminiyamma of Wynad in Kerala was a poor tribal girl with a heart disease. Mr. Padmanabhan, a social activist, working among the tribal people of Wynad and Palghat, had brought her to Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences at Whitefield on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Rukminiyamma, who was accompanied by her brother-in-law, Mr. Balakrishnan, was examined at the hospital on Thursday and Friday. The doctors decided to conduct a surgery on her August 13, stating that she would be cured of the ailment.

With hopes of leading a healthy life, Rukminiyamma decided to go home and return for the surgery. She boarded a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus to Waynad on Friday night. The bus met with an accident near Nidaghatta Checkpost around 1 a.m. on Saturday and Rukminiyamma was killed on the spot.

Mr. Padmanabhan and Mr. Balakrishnan, who were accompanying her, were injured and are recuperating at the Sanjay Gandhi Accident Relief Centre in the City.

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