26-year-old IPS officer dies in road accident on the way to first posting

A fatal road accident on Sunday evening claimed the life of 26-year-old Harsh Bardhan, a probationary IPS officer from the 2023 batch. Bardhan was traveling to Hassan district, Karnataka, to begin his first posting as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Holenarasipur when the vehicle he was traveling in crashed. The accident took place near Kittane in the Hassan taluk, on the Mysuru-Hassan highway. According to police reports, the vehicle’s tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The car then collided with a house and a tree by the roadside.

Harsh Bardhan sustained serious head injuries from the crash. Despite efforts to treat him, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Manjegowda, suffered minor injuries and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. Bardhan had recently completed his four-week training at the Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) in Mysuru and was heading to Hassan district to start his district training as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP). He had been assigned to the Karnataka cadre.

Bardhan was originally from Madhya Pradesh and was a qualified civil engineer before joining the Indian Police Service. His family hails from Bihar, and his father, Akhilesh, is a subdivisional magistrate in Madhya Pradesh. Bardhan had successfully completed his academic and training requirements and was looking forward to starting his career in law enforcement.

The incident has drawn widespread attention and condolences from colleagues and government officials. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling the accident a “horrific” incident. He offered condolences to Bardhan’s family and prayed for his soul to rest in peace. ADGP (Training) Alok Kumar also expressed grief over the death of the young officer and highlighted the importance of road safety. He described the loss of the young officer as a “precious life lost.”

The accident occurred on a well-known stretch of road between Mysuru and Hassan, which has seen its share of traffic-related incidents. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, particularly focusing on the tyre burst as a possible cause of the crash. Authorities have also stated that efforts will be made to review safety protocols for police personnel traveling on duty. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.