Driver who tried to save Telangana block official dies

HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old driver, who suffered burn injuries when a revenue official was burnt to death over a land dispute in her office at Abdullapurmet in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district on Monday, died on Tuesday.

Kamalla Gurunatham, the driver, was among the two people who suffered injuries when they tried to save Ch Vijaya Reddy, the 35-year-old revenue official. He had sustained 80% burn injuries.

Reddy died on the spot, while both Gurunatham and Chandraiah were rushed to a hospital in critical conditions. “Gurunatham’s condition was critical when he was brought to the hospital. He breathed his last at around 10 am on Tuesday,” a doctor said. He added that Chandraiah’s condition, who sustained 60% burns, remains serious.

Gurunatham is survived by his widow, Soundarya, and threeyear-old son, Siddharth.

The condition of Kura Suresh, who allegedly burnt Reddy to death, was also serious. According to the doctors treating him, Suresh sustained 65% burns.

Police said they will question Suresh’s family to find out the motive behind Reddy’s murder.