India
Devotee Dies While Climbing Deviramma Betta Near Chikkamagaluru
A 35‑year‑old devotee named Lakshman from Kanyadi in Dakshina Kannada district collapsed and died while climbing Deviramma Betta to reach the hilltop temple at Mallenahalli near Chikkamagaluru on the morning of Sunday, November 8, 2026. Lakshman was ascending the hill from the Mallenahalli side when he collapsed. Fire and Emergency Services personnel, stationed along the trail to assist devotees, carried his body down the hill and later transferred it to the district government hospital in Chikkamagaluru. Lakshman, who worked for a private company in Bengaluru, had travelled overnight to visit a relative in Huvinahalli and decided to climb the hill early in the morning. The Deviramma temple at the summit is open to the public only during the annual festival, which began on Saturday, November 7. Thousands of devotees from across the state have visited the temple over the past two days. This year the festival has been extended to two days, and climbing the hill at night has been prohibited for safety reasons. The Chikkamagaluru district administration and the police have implemented security arrangements and safety measures for the smooth conduct of the festival.