Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jun 29: A youth from Barekattu near Kundapur drowned during an excursion to famous picnic spot, Jomluteertha waterfall near Hebri, which is in its full glory now, on Sunday June 28 evening. Naveen Kharvi (25) happened to be the son of Devadas Kharvi, who operates an auto rickshaw at Kundapur. Naveen was the unfortunate victim of this tragedy.

Naveen, who used to work as mechanic in Arvind Motors at Kundapur, had undertaken journey to Jomluteertha along with friends, Praveen, Krishna, and Girish, in motor bikes to spend weekly holiday. The four friends reached the spot at around 4 pm. Naveen, who was enchanted by the beauty and glory of the waterfall, rushed ahead of his friends immediately after parking the motor bike, jumped into it. He perhaps failed to gauge the force of water, and therefore, got swept away to doom.

Although the friends did their best to save their sinking friend, their efforts did not mean much. After the information was conveyed, Hebri police conducted an operation to find the body of Naveen, with the help fo expert divers till 6 pm, but to no avail. At dusk, the operation was suspended.

As the waterfall has now acquired phenomenal proportions both in terms of quantum of water and force of flow, it has become very dangerous. In all probability, the youth's body would have been swept away several km away, it is being guessed. A missing case was registered at Hebri police station.