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Reportedly, Yankappa was driving a hay-laden tractor through the narrow road of the village, when the hay suddenly caught fire having come into contact with an electric wire. Efforts made by the locals to contain the fire by pouring water proved to be inadequate.
Upon realizing that the nearby houses stood the risk of catching fire if he were to abandon the vehicle there itself, a composed Yankappa, on the advice of the villagers kept driving the tractor towards a nearby lake. Once he reached the lake, he drove the tractor into the water and jumped out of it after it had submerged partially, causing the flames to die down.