Bangalore: A 61-year-old Karnataka minister on Tuesday became hero by jumping into a cold lake along with his guards to save a family of six trapped in a sinking car near Beguvalli, 20km from Thirthahallli.
Primary and secondary education minister Kimmane Ratnakar was on his way back from his home town, Thirthahallli, when he spotted a Maruti Swift sinking in the lake.
On seeing this, Kimmane, his gunman Halswamy, driver Chandrashekar and escort vehicle driver Krishnamurthy jumped into the water.
Chandrashekar opened a rear door and pulled out three children and with the help of his men brought them safely to the shore.
The four then returned to the car, which had by now settled on shallow lake bed, and rescued the other three occupants, including a 55-year-old woman. The man in the driver's seat by then was unconscious.
Kimmane called the doctor who treated Uday Kumar, 40; his wife Suma, 35; his mother Geetha, 55; sons aged 14 and 8; and a three-year-old nephew of Uday.
He later called his friends and arranged breakfast and medicines for them. He also gave Uday his clothes before resuming his journey to Bangalore.
