Tumakuru Cab Blast: Man Sets Off Bomb in Car to Die Together With Ex, She Jumps Out and He Dies

A 30-year-old man died after a powerful explosion ripped through a moving cab in Tumakuru district of Karnataka , in an incident police suspect was a failed attempt to kill himself and his former partner. The woman escaped moments before the blast, while the accused was trapped inside the vehicle and burnt alive.

The incident took place near Jogihalli in Sira taluk on Saturday on National Highway 48 , when a yellow board cab suddenly exploded and was engulfed in flames. The deceased has been identified as Nagendra , while the woman, an OT technician in Bengaluru , and the cab driver, Praveen , sustained injuries and were taken to Tumakuru District Hospital .

According to police, Nagendra and the woman were previously in a relationship but had recently separated. Investigators said she had blocked his number following personal disputes, after which he allegedly confronted her at her residence in Jayanagar, Bengaluru , and forcibly took her away in a cab. A kidnapping complaint was later filed by her family.

Police said that during the journey towards Ankola, Nagendra allegedly threatened to kill the woman and himself. He is also suspected to have been carrying an explosive device, which he reportedly showed her during the trip.

The situation escalated when he allegedly attacked her with a knife inside the moving vehicle. The driver immediately stopped the cab, allowing the woman to open the door and jump out, narrowly escaping the attack.

Moments later, a massive explosion tore through the vehicle , setting it ablaze. Nagendra was trapped inside and died on the spot before emergency responders could arrive. The blast also caused a traffic jam stretching over a kilometre on the busy highway.

Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Ashok K.V. said preliminary findings suggest Nagendra may have deliberately triggered the explosion. Police have recovered bomb like explosive material from the vehicle and are investigating its origin, composition, and how it was activated. The Kallambella Police have registered a case and further investigation is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fatal explosion.