In the past week, Dakshina Kannada district has been rocked by the devastating loss of five adolescents and youths, leaving their families and the community in profound shock and sorrow.
Details of the Tragic Incidents:
Among the deceased:
- Two students lost their lives in separate road accidents.
- Swasthi Shetty (15) passed away due to illness on April 14.
- Juna (19), a college student from Mulky, tragically succumbed to illness on April 16 while in her hostel.
- Swathi Shetty (24), a dental medical graduate residing in a PG in Pandeshwar, was found dead on the morning of April 16 after going to bed the previous night.
On April 11, Mohammed Razik (16), an SSLC student, met with a tragic end when a wild boar crossed his scooter’s path near Peravaje Boradka on the Bellare-Savanoor Road. Similarly, Savio Mahesh (20), an engineering student, was fatally injured on the night of April 15 when his bike collided with a car at Adyar.
These incidents, along with the heartbreaking drowning of four high school boys in a river near Haleangadi on February 28, have stirred deep concern among the public in the DK district.
Official Response and Call for Calm:
Addressing the public’s apprehensions, Dr. Timmaiah, the District Health Officer (DHO) of Dakshina Kannada, urged for calm. He stated, “Two girl students and a young doctor have tragically passed away in separate incidents.
It has come to light that Swasthi Shetty, a high school student from Shirtadi, had been undergoing medical treatment for some days due to an autoimmune disease.
This condition involves the body’s own antibodies attacking a specific organ or system, and treatment may not always be effective for certain cases.
Dr. Swathi Shetty had informed her parents the night before of severe headaches and passed away the following morning. We will gather further information from her family to ascertain if there were any other underlying health issues. I will also investigate the circumstances of Juna’s death, a student of Mulky college. There is no need for public panic.”
