Udupi: A shocking protest was witnessed by the locals near the bus stop of Manipal town, where a man protested to express anger against official apathy towards infrastructure.

The unique form of protest was staged by Nityananda Olakadu, who is a social activist and president of the Zilla Nagarika Samiti. He condemned the poor condition of the national highway passing through Manipal.

Nityananda swam in the potholes symbolically, even though he could not dip himself completely, he gathered a huge crowd who cheered him up and expressed protest towards the authorities.

Another anarchist Tharanath Mesta joined Olakadu and staged fishing in the pothole water and had a dead fish at the end of his fishing rod.

Olakadu said, “The roads are so pathetic that patients who are taken to KMC, Manipal, die on the way as the horrible condition of the roads do not permit the vehicles to ply smoothly. Every phase of driving or riding in the area is risky. Manipal is an educational hub and the stretch is an important road that countless pedestrians use and vehicles ply.”

“Even though the road has been upgraded to a National Highway, the repair works are also not taken up”, he added.

Balakrishna Kodavoor and other locals joined the symbolic protest.