Udupi: Tragedy Strikes at YCS Village Camp at Moodubelle
Daijiworld Media Network
Udupi, Oct 19: In a shocking and painful tragic happening, one of the Young Christian Students (YCS) from Kinnigoli, 17 years old, Sohan Quadros lost his life in a freak drowning incident in the Belle river at Devaragudde on Saturday, 17th October 2009, afternoon.
Sohan had accompanied the YCS of the Kinnigoli Varado to a village life camp of two days duration. Such camps have been organised to inculcate a sense of social service and have firsthand experience of the village life. The camp comprised of 33 students from various parishes of the Kinnigoli Varado-Kinnigoli-9 students, Kirem-3; Bolkunje-6; Pakshikere-4; Kateel-7; Niddodi-2 and Nirudde-2. They were led by a priest and two sisters.
Before coming to Moodubelle, the students stayed at the Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre at Pamboor, Padubelle on Friday, 16th October, 2009, where they interacted with the mentally challenged children, played games with them and helped in cleaning the campus of the institution and also had camp fire after dinner.
On the next day, Saturday, 17th October 2009, the YCS students came to Devaragudde in Moodubelle where they were exposed to the experience of farming activities in the village. They helped Monthu Castelino and Benjamine Quadros of Devaragudde in harvesting their paddy fields. The studdents were quite enthusiastic about this activity. They were provided breakfast and tea near the paddy field itself which they enjoyed very much.
By afternoon the students completed harvesting and went for a wash in the shallow part of the Belle River which flows close by. While washing they began to play in water. After some time it was discovered that Sohan Quadros was missing. Immediate search for Sohan was conducted on the shallow sand bed of the river where Sohan was found in unconscious state by Robert Castelino, the elderly native of Devaragudde who was nearby. After giving the first aid, arrangement for an ambulance was made by Roshan Castelino and Sohan was rushed to KMC Hospital Manipal by the priest, one Sister and Pravin Castelino. On reaching the hospital, Sohan was placed on ventilator, but he could not be saved.
The people of Moodubelle could not believed that such a tragic incident could take place in their village. They feel extremely sad that one the life of a promising young man was snatched by the cruel hands of fate.