In a heartbreaking incident, 26-year-old Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Harsh Bardhan lost his life in a road accident in Karnataka’s Hassan district on Sunday evening while on his way to assume his first posting.

Bardhan, a 2023-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, was traveling to Holenarasipur to take charge as a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police when the vehicle he was in suffered a tyre burst near Kittane in Hassan taluk. The driver lost control, causing the car to crash into a roadside house and tree, police sources confirmed.

The officer sustained severe head injuries and succumbed during treatment at a local hospital. The driver, identified as Manjegowda, escaped with minor injuries.

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Bardhan was the son of a sub-divisional magistrate. He had recently completed his foundational training at the Karnataka Police Academy in Mysuru.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his grief over the incident. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “Saddened to hear about the death of probationary IPS officer Harsh Bardhan in a horrific accident near the Kittane border of the Hassan-Mysuru Highway. It is very sad that such an accident happened while he was on his way to take charge as an IPS officer. This should not have happened when years of hard work were paying off. I pray to God that Harsh Bardhan’s soul rests in peace. My condolences to the family of the deceased.”

The tragic demise of the young officer has sent shockwaves across the police fraternity and his home state. His dedication to service and the bright future that lay ahead of him have left many mourning the untimely loss.