Kadaba: A birthday visit took an unexpected turn in Dakshina Kannada district after a lovers’ quarrel allegedly ended with a car key being thrown into a roadside drain, forcing a youth to spend nearly four hours searching for it near Santekatte in Kadaba. The unusual incident drew the attention of passersby and later went viral on social media.
According to local sources, the youth, a resident of Eshwaramangala, had travelled to Kadaba in a friend’s car to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday. The woman was reportedly working at a private office located on the first floor of a commercial building near Santekatte.
What began as a birthday greeting, however, soon turned into an argument between the couple over an undisclosed issue.
Argument takes an unexpected turn
Sources said the disagreement intensified during the meeting, leading to a heated exchange between the two.
In a fit of anger, the woman allegedly snatched the car key from the youth and threw it from the first floor of the building into the roadside drain below.
The key reportedly landed in a drain filled with muddy water, slush and thick vegetation, making it almost impossible to locate immediately.
With the only key missing, the youth found himself stranded as he was unable to move the parked vehicle.
Hours-long search attracts crowd
Determined to retrieve the key, the youth began searching through the drain despite the dirty water and dense undergrowth.
The unusual sight of a man searching inside a roadside drain in a busy commercial area soon caught the attention of pedestrians and local residents.
Curious onlookers gathered around the spot to find out what had happened. After learning about the situation, several local residents joined the search effort.
People cleared bushes and vegetation around the drain in an attempt to locate the missing key, hoping to help the stranded youth recover it.
Despite the combined efforts of those present, the key remained missing.
Search ends without success
The search reportedly continued for nearly four hours and lasted until around 7.30 pm.
Even after thoroughly checking the drain and surrounding area, the key could not be found.
With no immediate solution available, the youth was forced to leave the car parked at the location and return home in an auto-rickshaw.
It is not known whether a spare key was later arranged to retrieve the vehicle.
Video goes viral on social media
A video showing the prolonged search operation has since surfaced on social media and is being widely circulated.
The footage has sparked widespread discussion online, with many users expressing surprise at how a personal disagreement resulted in an unusual public spectacle.
Others commented on the willingness of local residents to assist the youth despite the difficult conditions inside the drain.
The incident has drawn attention largely because of its unusual nature rather than any criminal complaint.
No police case reported
As of now, there are no reports of any police complaint being registered in connection with the incident.
The episode appears to have remained a personal dispute between the couple, though it briefly became the centre of attention for residents and commuters passing through the busy Santekatte area.
The incident serves as an example of how minor disagreements can unexpectedly escalate into situations that attract public attention, especially in the age of social media where videos of unusual events quickly gain traction online.