Upset over breakup, man blows up car and dies, woman escapes with minor injuries

 

By Sagaya Fernando | June 30, 2026

Tumakuru, Karnataka, INDIA: A 30-year-old man allegedly blew himself up inside a moving car after reportedly abducting his former girlfriend and attempting to kill her following a breakup. The dramatic incident occurred on Saturday June 27 near Jogihalli in Sira taluk of Karnataka's Tumakuru district.

The deceased has been identified as Nagendra, while the injured woman, Ramya Ullas (23), an operation theatre technician at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Bengaluru, escaped with minor injuries after jumping out of the vehicle moments before the explosion. The cab driver, Praveen, also sustained minor injuries while trying to save her. Both are undergoing treatment at the Tumakuru District Hospital.

According to police, Nagendra and Ramya were previously in a relationship but had been facing personal disputes for several days. Ramya had reportedly ended the relationship and blocked Nagendra's phone number after repeated disagreements.

Investigators said Nagendra allegedly went to Ramya's residence in Bengaluru's Jayanagar on Saturday, picked up a quarrel with her, and forcibly took her into a cab that he had booked. Following a complaint from Ramya's parents, the Jayanagar Police registered a kidnapping case.

Police said the trio was travelling from Bengaluru towards Ankola on National Highway-48 when Nagendra allegedly threatened Ramya, claiming he would kill her before ending his own life. During the journey, he reportedly displayed a crude "petrol bomb"-like explosive device and continued issuing threats.

As the vehicle neared Jogihalli in Sira taluk, Nagendra allegedly attacked Ramya with a knife inside the moving car. Despite suffering injuries, Ramya alerted the driver that Nagendra was carrying explosives.

The cab driver immediately pulled the vehicle over, allowing Ramya to unlock the door and jump out. Praveen also managed to escape just seconds before a powerful explosion ripped through the vehicle, engulfing it in flames.

Nagendra, who is suspected to have remained inside the locked vehicle, was charred to death on the spot.

The blast caused a major fire and resulted in a traffic jam stretching over a kilometre along the busy highway. Police and fire personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames and secure the area.

Preliminary investigations suggest Nagendra detonated a crude explosive device that he had brought inside the vehicle. Police have recovered bomb-like material from the burnt car, and forensic experts are examining the evidence to determine the exact nature of the explosives and the cause of the blast.

Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Ashok, along with senior officers, visited the scene and supervised the investigation.

The Kallambella Police have registered a case and are conducting further investigations into the kidnapping, attempted murder, and the explosion. Authorities are also probing how the accused procured the explosive material.