Inchara Udupi

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 12: A boy who ventured into the Arabian sea to take a dip was washed away by a strong undercurrent. The incident occurred at Muloor near Kaup in the district on the evening of Wednesday January 11.

The victim was Rakesh (14), son of Shekhar Poojary and Devaki couple residing at Mahalaxmi Nagara in Muloor. While Shekhar works as a painter, his wife rolls bidis. Rakesh was an eighth standard student of the government composite high school at Muloor. When returning from school on Wednesday, he wanted to take a bath in the sea but unfortunately he drowned. Rakesh was the younger of the couple's two children. He has left behind parents and an elder sister.

Rakesh was accompanied by his friends from his school. His friends, overtaken by fright at this sudden development, ran to their homes. Locals rushed to the boy's rescue, but it was too late. It is said that Rakesh and his friends had developed the habit of having a casual dip in the sea since some time, and they had been warned by locals against it several times because of the danger posed by the sea. It is gathered that when the children wanted to enter the sea on Tuesday evening, people engaged in building a protective wall against sea erosion there had driven them away by waving a stick.

Kaup police sub-inspector, Jagadish Reddy, visited the spot after learning about the incident. A case of unnatural death stands registered at Kaup station.