In a heartbreaking incident in Tekkatte village, Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, a father and son drowned in a well on Thursday morning, while the mother survived after a desperate attempt to save them.
The deceased have been identified as Madhava (60) and his son Prasad (23). The lone survivor is Tara (55)—Madhava’s wife and Prasad’s mother.
According to Kota Police, Madhava, distressed over growing financial debt from loans borrowed through local self-help groups, was showing signs of emotional turmoil. Around 6 am, he allegedly jumped into the well in front of their house in an apparent suicide attempt.
Prasad, witnessing the act, leapt in instinctively to rescue his father. As both began to struggle, Tara too jumped into the water in a frantic bid to save them. Sadly, both Madhava and Prasad drowned.
Tara managed to cling to a pipe inside the well. Neighbours, alerted by her cries, arrived in time and pulled her out to safety.
The family lived in Tekkatte, and both father and son worked at a petrol station near Basrur. Locals said Madhava had been deeply troubled by his inability to repay multiple loans from different cooperative societies.
A case has been registered at Kota Police Station, and further investigations are in progress.
This tragic episode highlights the mental and financial toll of rural indebtedness and the urgent need for community-level support mechanisms.
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