Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Jun 7: In a tragic incident, a college student lost his life after slipping and drowning in the Gada Theertha Lake near the revered Karinja Temple in Bantwal taluk on Saturday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Chethan (19), son of Sridhar Mulya, a resident of Kangitthilu near Wagga Karinja Cross. He was a student of B Mooda Government Pre-University College, Bantwal.

According to sources, Chethan was a devout visitor of the Karinja Temple and would offer prayers every Saturday. As per his routine, he had arrived at the temple earlier today along with his friend Prashvit. However, tragedy struck when Chethan slipped while descending the steps to wash his feet in the temple's sacred lake.

Unable to swim, Prashvit panicked and immediately called for help. Hearing his cries, locals rushed to the spot. Among them, Shravan Jain and Udaya Mangaje bravely jumped into the lake in an attempt to rescue the boy. Though they managed to pull Chethan out of the water after an intense search, he had unfortunately breathed his last by then.

The Bantwal Rural police visited the spot and are investigating the matter.

The sudden demise of a young life has cast a pall of gloom over the local community, especially among fellow students and devotees of the temple.