Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Nov 6: Three young men who were on a visit to well-known Ermai Falls near Kajoor in the taluk on Sunday November 5, fell into the falls in the evening. Two among them have been rescued, and the other one has gone missing.

The person who could not be saved was Volachil Bettu Akshit (20), son of Umesh Poojary from Volachil Bettu in Mittabagilu village in the taluk. Akshit had come to the falls for fun along with friends, Rajnan (18) who hails from Volachil Bettu, and Sachin (16) from Tannirpantha. After reaching the location of the falls at about 10.30 am, the friends had spent the entire day here.

After the trio fell into the falls at 4.30 pm, those who were nearby rushed to their rescue and succeeded saving the lives of two among them. Both stand admitted into a private hospital at Ujire and they are out of danger. Search for missing youth, Akshit, went on till late night. A rescue team led by assistant sub-inspector, Kalaimar, fire brigade team, and a team of local divers were involved with the search operation.

After the news spread, hundreds of people living in nearby areas rushed to the spot. Ermai Falls is a picturesque spot frequented by hundreds of tourists but the area lacks in basic facilities including road connectivity. Because of lack of proper road, rescue teams find it hard to extend timely help, going by past experiences of tragedies that have taken place at the spot in the past, locals say. They allege that a nearby resident had offered to lay road to the spot on his own, but the local administration had failed to respond properly.

Police personnel from the town station have registered a case. Akshit is said to be a college student.