Updated
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Jun 14: The body of the 21-year-old final-year BCom student, who went missing after drowning in the Hirehole river on Saturday afternoon, was recovered a short distance away on Sunday, June 14 morning.
The deceased, Samaraj (21), had gone missing around 4:30 pm on June 13 while swimming in the Arbeattu Suligundi Hirehole river within the Thekatte gram panchayat limits.
Body found in mid-river
Despite torrential downpours since Sunday morning, diving expert Eshwar Malpe and his team launched a rigorous search operation. Equipped with oxygen cylinders, the divers went deep into the swelling river currents. At around 9:24 am, the team located and retrieved the body of the student from the middle section of the river.
Nagaraj from the Kota Jeevan Mitra team and local villagers assisted the rescue team throughout the operation.
Kota police station house officer Praveen and his personnel rushed to the spot, conducted an inspection, and registered a case.
Earlier Report
Kundapur: Final-year BCom student swept away in Hirehole river, search intensified
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Jun 14: A 21-year-old college student went missing after drowning while swimming in the Suligundi Hirehole river at Beloor village under Thekkatte gram panchayat limits on Saturday, June 13. The incident occurred around 4:30 pm.
The missing youth has been identified as Samaraj (21), a resident of Garikematha and son of Nagaraj and Shivagami. He is currently a final-year BCom student at a private institution.
Strong undercurrent
Reports suggest that a group of seven friends from Saheberakatte had visited the area in the evening and were standing on the Konabage bridge, which connects Beloor and Achladi. Observing that the water level in the river looked low, Samaraj decided to venture into the water for a swim. However, a sudden surge in the water inflow created a powerful undercurrent, sweeping him away.
Search operation suspended
Following the mishap, the Kundapur fire brigade personnel and local disaster management team members Sukumar Shetty Delattu and Narasimha Bhovi launched an intense search operation. Despite utilizing boats and scanning the river for over two hours, the rescue team was forced to temporarily suspend the operation late Saturday evening due to heavy monsoon rains and deteriorating visibility caused by the overcast weather.
Kota police station house officer Praveen confirmed that renowned diving expert Eshwar Malpe will join the rescue teams to spearhead the search operation on Sunday, June 14. Hundreds of anxious villagers gathered at the riverbank as news of the incident spread through the locality.