Daijiworld Media Network - Ramanagara (SP)

Ramanagara, Feb 26: Out of thousands of pilgrims who were walking to Male Mahadeshwara Hills on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri a few were washed away due to the surge in the water flow in Kaveri river. This incident happened at Elagalli, Kanakapura, on Thursday evening. Out of those who were washed away, only a woman's body was recovered.

Thousands of people from Karnataka and other states congregate at Elagalli, Ramanagara every year for Shivaratri festival. A week before the Shivaratri festival, they follow the custom of walking to Male Mahadeshwara Hill. They cross the river here, walk for 30 km through the Kaveri wildlife sanctuary and reach Male Mahadeshwara Hill. As there are no facilities like bridges or boats, they walk through the river.

This year, the forest department had tied a rope from one side of the river to the other to enable the devotees to cross the river. People were crossing the river by holding onto the rope. When too many people put pressure on the rope together, it snapped, giving rise to this tragedy,

Devaraj, range forest officer of Sangama wildlife forest division, said that the public have no entry into Kaveri wildlife and because this is a religious programme, restricting them is difficult. He said that henceforth, till the pilgrimage is completed, flow of water from Krishnarajasagar into the river will be reduced.

The spot where the tragedy happened is the point where Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara districts meet. Being a wildlife sanctuary, no modern communication facilities can be provided there.

Eyewitnesses said that many suddenly got washed away because of the sudden increase in the force of the river. Many who knew how to swim jumped into the river and saved most of the devotees. They presumed that only a couple of people would have been washed away and the others were saved.