Mysuru: In a tragic incident, six people lost their lives after drowning in the Cauvery River near Arkeshwara temple in K R Nagar taluk of Mysuru district on Sunday.
The victims had reportedly travelled to attend the annual urus at the Hazrat Khader Lingavali Dargah when the incident occurred around 3 pm.
Victims identified
The deceased have been identified as Umer (7) from Udayagiri, Nehaan (20) from Bannur, Syed Fathima (38) from Ooty, Yaasin (23), Haima (13) from Bengaluru, and Afiya (20). The group comprised family members and acquaintances who had gathered for the religious event.
Sequence of events
According to Additional Superintendent of Police C Mallik, around 20 people from the group had entered the river area before lunch. While they were near a platform (katte), a child accidentally slipped into the water.
“In an attempt to rescue the child, others jumped in without realising the depth of the river. One after another, about nine people fell into the water,” he said.
Three individuals were rescued by locals and emergency personnel, while six could not be saved.
Rescue and recovery operations
Local residents, fishermen, and teams from the fire and emergency services department immediately launched a rescue operation. The bodies were later retrieved from the river and shifted to the government hospital in K R Nagar for post-mortem examination.
Senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi and ASP C Mallik, rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue and recovery efforts.
Safety concerns raised
The incident has raised concerns over safety measures at popular riverbank locations, especially during religious gatherings when large crowds gather near water bodies.
Officials noted that lack of awareness about water depth and absence of safety precautions often lead to such accidents. Authorities are expected to review safety arrangements in the area to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Conclusion
The drowning incident near K R Nagar has left families and the local community in shock. What began as a routine visit to a religious event turned into a devastating tragedy, highlighting the need for increased caution and safety measures near rivers and water bodies.