Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Nov 29: In a tragic incident, two Ayyappa devotees drowned while bathing in a temple pond at Karamballi here on Sunday November 29.

The deceased have been identified as Ashok and his nephew Udaya, residents of Kunjibettu.

It is learnt that Ashok along with his sister's son Udaya and neighbour Ganesh, all three Ayyappa devotees, had gone to Venkataramana Temple pond for a bath, when Ashok accidentally slipped and fell into the water. Udaya who was nearby rushed to his uncle's rescue, but he too got washed away. Sources said that both were not adept at swimming.

Ganesh also rushed to their rescue, but could not save them, it is said.

Ashok ran a shop at Kadiyali while Udaya worked for Manipal press.

It is learnt that though fire personnel arrived at the spot, it was difficult to retrieve the bodies, and finally, after about two hours of efforts, labourers from Odisha who helped in the operation managed to find the bodies and brought them ashore.

The bodies were taken to the mortuary at Ajjarkad government hospital.

MLA Pramod Madhwaraj and others visited the mortuary and directed the officials to file a case and complete the post-mortem procedures without delay.

Manipal police have registered a case.