Haveri district witnessed two heart-wrenching drowning incidents on Sunday, claiming the lives of four young boys.

In the first incident at Kopparasikoppa village in Hangal taluk, 13-year-old Dhanush Cholappanavar, a student of Mundgod Private High School, and 11-year-old Nikhil Jagadish Nagoji, who studied at Kopparasikoppa Government Primary School, tragically lost their lives. The duo had ventured into a village lake for a swim but failed to gauge its depth, leading to their untimely demise.

The second mishap occurred in Attigeri village of Shiggaon taluk, where 14-year-olds Prajwal Devaramani and Sanat Bhusareddy drowned in Goudara lake. Both boys, unaware of the deep waters, struggled to stay afloat before disappearing beneath the surface.

Locals rushed to the spots upon hearing about the incidents, but their efforts to rescue the children were in vain. Authorities were alerted, and rescue teams recovered the bodies after extensive searches.

Preliminary reports suggest that none of the victims were strong swimmers, and their lack of awareness regarding the lake’s depth proved fatal.

These tragedies serve as a grim reminder of the dangers of swimming in unfamiliar water bodies. Authorities urge parents and guardians to educate children about water safety and ensure they swim only in designated safe zones.