Bengaluru, May 28: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy condoled the death of noted photojournalist Keshava Vittla who passed away on Sunday.

Keshava Vittla had started his career as photojournalist in ‘Mungaru’ Kannada daily published from Mangaluru thirty years ago. Later, he continued his profession Kannada Prabha where he got popularity. ‘Veekshana Chayankana’ of Keshava Vittla, being published in Kannada Prabha was a novel concept and experiment in the Indian media history. The “Veekshana Chayankana” was being published with a paragraph of writing on the pictures which were throwing light mainly on social problems and this was getting good response. After Kannada Prabha, he worked in Udayavani, Roopatara, The Telegraph, Hindustan Times, Washington Post and other newspapers. He had organized four photo exhibitions.

The first photo exhibition “The Insights of Life” conducted during 1988 had expressed the real insights of life. Another photo exhibition “Illusion and Reality” held in 1998 had displayed the wonders between imagination and reality. His another expo was “The Faithfull Karnataka Waterscapes” and another exhibition conducted in 2003 had depicted the present situation of stray dogs in all cities. Another exhibition held in 2008 was centralized on major tanks, attractive sea shores and beaches, and breathtaking waterfalls of the state.

He has also published a book called “Facets of Karnataka: A Pictorial Journey” wherein the special characteristics of forest, and its diversity, hills, stones and boulders, sea shores, waterfalls and other wonders of nature and environment got the place.

Apart from this, Keshava Vittla was also famous for capturing the colour combination. Interesting fact is that Vittla has worked for more than 8 years to prepare for this book and it shows his concern towards the environment.

He has also published a book called “Nose for news, eyes for photography” and has done a good work as an individual. If the book is glanced once, it would give an experience of travelling all the tourist places in the state. Moreover, it would also create curiosity among reader that he should visit those places once in a lifetime, the CM explained in his message.

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Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire at a nightclub which claimed 25 lives.

Speaking to PTI, Sawant said an FIR has been lodged against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub and they would be arrested.

The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane after midnight. The popular party venue at Arpora village, located around 25 km from the state capital Panaji, opened last year.

CM Sawant, in a post on X, said, "I am closely reviewing the situation arising from the tragic fire incident at Arpora, in which 25 people have lost their lives and six have been injured." 

"All six injured persons are in a stable condition and are receiving the best medical care. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the entire incident to identify the cause and fix responsibility," he said.

Speaking to PTI, Sawant said the police have registered an FIR against the owner and the general manager of the nightclub, and they would be arrested.

He said this is the first time that such an incident has happened in Goa. 

A preliminary inquiry has indicated that the fire started on the first floor of the club, and due to congestion and small doors, the customers could not move out, the CM said.

"Some of them rushed to the ground floor and got trapped there," he said.