BENGALURU: At just 14, Yogendra had already begun carving a name for himself on the athletics track. A state-level long jump champion from Muddelinganahalli village in Nelamangala taluk on the outskirts of the city, the Class 8 student carried big dreams and the pride of his village. On Thursday morning, those dreams were tragically cut short.Yogendra died after being hit by a train while searching for his missing pet dog near the railway tracks. Police said the boy had gone out early in the morning to look for the dog and was struck by a fast-moving train, that killed him on the spot. However, it is still not clear how the boy did not spot the train or was not alerted by the train’s sound.
The news came as a devastating blow to his parents, Srinivas and Chinnamma, who were searching for their son across the village. “I sent him to look for the dog, not knowing it would be the last time I would see my son,” Srinivas said, breaking down.Yogendra had recently won first place in the long jump at a state-level competition, earning admiration and hope from his community. Yeshwanthpur railway police have registered a case, and the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.
