Five people drown in Cauvery river in Karnataka, four victims from same family
The tragedy occurred when one of the victims slipped into the deeper section of the water. In an attempt to save her, several members of her family entered the water and drowned.
Five people, including four members of the same family, drowned in the Cauvery River at the popular tourist spot of Muthathi in Mandya district on Tuesday evening, in a tragic incident that unfolded during a temple visit.
The victims have been identified as Shwetha (38), Chaithra (20), Vijayamma (50), Priyanka (28) and Mahesh, the driver. All were natives of Byadarahalli, a place located on the western side of Bengaluru.
According to police, the group had visited the Kabbalamma Temple earlier in the day before proceeding to the Muthathiraya Temple in Muthathi. After completing their visit, they went to the nearby Cauvery River, where the tragedy occurred between 4:45 pm and 5 pm.
They further said that the tragedy occurred when Vijayamma accidentally slipped into a deeper section of the river and began to drown. In a desperate attempt to rescue her, the others entered the water one after another but were swept away by the strong current.
Talking about the incident, senior cop Shobha Rani said that four women from the family entered the river to take photographs, believing the water was shallow. Despite warnings from Home Guards stationed in the area, they proceeded into the river.
“The family had come for a temple visit. After darshan, they went near the river for photographs. Vijayamma was the first to get into difficulty, and the others tried to save her but were caught in the current,” Rani said.
Ravi, a member of the family who also attempted to rescue them, was pulled out by locals and survived. A four-year-old child accompanying the group also escaped unharmed.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel later recovered all five bodies from the river and shifted them to Mandya MIMS Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Following the incident, the local police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that the victims underestimated the depth and flow of the river, which appeared calm but had strong underwater currents.
Five people, including four members of the same family, drowned in the Cauvery River at the popular tourist spot of Muthathi in Mandya district on Tuesday evening, in a tragic incident that unfolded during a temple visit.
The victims have been identified as Shwetha (38), Chaithra (20), Vijayamma (50), Priyanka (28) and Mahesh, the driver. All were natives of Byadarahalli, a place located on the western side of Bengaluru.
According to police, the group had visited the Kabbalamma Temple earlier in the day before proceeding to the Muthathiraya Temple in Muthathi. After completing their visit, they went to the nearby Cauvery River, where the tragedy occurred between 4:45 pm and 5 pm.
They further said that the tragedy occurred when Vijayamma accidentally slipped into a deeper section of the river and began to drown. In a desperate attempt to rescue her, the others entered the water one after another but were swept away by the strong current.
Talking about the incident, senior cop Shobha Rani said that four women from the family entered the river to take photographs, believing the water was shallow. Despite warnings from Home Guards stationed in the area, they proceeded into the river.
“The family had come for a temple visit. After darshan, they went near the river for photographs. Vijayamma was the first to get into difficulty, and the others tried to save her but were caught in the current,” Rani said.
Ravi, a member of the family who also attempted to rescue them, was pulled out by locals and survived. A four-year-old child accompanying the group also escaped unharmed.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel later recovered all five bodies from the river and shifted them to Mandya MIMS Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Following the incident, the local police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that the victims underestimated the depth and flow of the river, which appeared calm but had strong underwater currents.
