Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Sep 8: In a tragic incident on September 7 afternoon, nine out of ten students from Bengaluru, who had gone for a swim in the sea, were caught in strong waves. Three of them lost their lives, while one was seriously injured and admitted to Manipal Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Gautam (19), Lokesh (19), and Ashish (18), all from Bengaluru. Niroop (19) sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Manipal Hospital.

A group of ten friends – Dhanush, Rahul, Anjan, Kushal, Aneesh, Nitin, Niroop, Lokesh, Gautam, and Ashish – had travelled from Bengaluru to Kundapur by train. They were staying at a lodge in Kumbashi.

On Sunday morning, the group had gone to Gopadi Cherkikadu beach for a swim. Local residents warned them not to enter the sea due to strong undercurrents and advised them to return. The students initially left, but around 1:40 pm in the afternoon, nine of them once again entered the sea at the same spot for swimming.

This time, four youths – Niroop, Lokesh, Gautam, and Ashish – were pulled in by the powerful waves. Hearing their screams, a local resident named Umesh rushed to the spot and managed to rescue Niroop by pulling him ashore. However, by then, the other three had been swept away.

Kundapur MLA Kiran Kumar Kodlu visited the spot and appealed to tourists not to risk entering the sea during rough conditions.

The bodies of the three deceased have been brought to Kundapur government mortuary and later shifted to Manipal Hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered at Kundapur police station.