Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Jul 10: A young girl is feared to have drowned after she fell while walking across a wooden bridge over Chakra river at Maranakatte under Kollur police station limits here on Friday July 10.
The deceased, Vismaya Devadiga (7), was going to school accompanied by her mother when the tragedy took place.
The narrow wooden bridge, with no adequate safety, was constructed by the locals after the government turned down their appeal to construct a concrete bridge. The bridge has been regularly used by the locals, but on Friday, the water in the river was overflowing due to heavy rains.
Vismaya, her mother and another child were crossing the bridge, but midway, Vismaya told her mother she wanted to walk ahead alone and let go of her hand. But as soon as she took a few steps, she slipped and fell into the water. The force of the river was such that she got washed away before anyone could even try to rescue her.
As soon as the news got around, locals gathered at another bridge located about 4-5 kilometres away on the same river, and began searching for the girl. They placed pipes and nets in the water in order to obstruct the flow of the river, so that the girl could be spotted if she floats across.
Fire personnel have also arrived at the spot and the search for the girl is still on. MLA Gopal Poojary visited the spot.
Daughter of Shekar and Jalaja Devadiga, residents of Sanyasibettu, Maranakatte, Vismaya was studying in the third standard at Marakatte government school.