Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jun 26: Ramachandra Hegde (80), father of Umesh Hegde, a newspaper agent from Bellare, lost his balance and drowned in the rivulet while crossing a make shift bridge made out of areca nut trees on Tuesday June 25.

A dam was built across Gowri rivulet at Tadekaje about 20 years back. Slabs were laid atop the dam to enable people to cross the rivulet on foot. Within a few years, several slabs got washed away, and the dam became useless. The local people replaced the fallen slabs with areca nut trees. During the rainy season, people including students use this precarious bridge to cross this rivulet.

Ramachandra was from Muliyar in Kasargod, and had shifted base to Tadekaje about three decades ago after acquiring agricultural lands and house here. He worked as a coolie at Bellare in the past. He is survived by six sons and three daughters. On Tuesday, as was his routine, Ramachandra was returning home after sitting at his son’s shop at Bellare for some time.

His body was recovered later. The policemen have registered a case.