Belthangady: A young man, aged 25 years old, died as he lost control over the motorbike that he was riding on and the bike fell on the road near Kalmanja Nidigal, late Thursday night.

The deceased has been identified as Mithun Karkera, a resident of Mundrupadi in Dharmasthala village, who worked as a private bus and auto driver. He is survived by his parents and sister.

Karkera was reportedly riding home from Mangaluru after attending a programme on Thursday when the accident occurred. As Karkera lost control over the bike near Kalmanja Nidigal, the two-wheeler skidded and fell on the road.

Finding that the youngster had suffered serious head injuries, the locals immediately took him to a private hospital in Ujire. Karkera, however, could not respond to the treatment and died in the hospital.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.

The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.

Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.

The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.

A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.

The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.

“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.

Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.

“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.

Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.

Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.