Shivamogga: Fear and anxiety continue to grip Shivamogga district as search operations remain underway in the swollen Tunga River and its canals, where an SSLC student and two young sisters are yet to be traced following two separate tragic water incidents. A 15-year-old SSLC student was swept away in the Tunga canal opposite Eshwaravana near Abbalagere on the outskirts of Shivamogga city Wednesday, and was yet to be traced as of Thursday.
Search operation continues for student who drowned after going for a swim in the Tunga channel near Abbalagere
Krishna, a resident of Bommanakatte and a student of a private school in Gopala, had gone to the canal with five friends for a swim. He stepped into the water first and lost control due to the heavy volume and swift current. Though one of his friends attempted to rescue him, the powerful current pulled him under.Fire and emergency services personnel launched a search operation. However, high water levels have severely hampered rescue efforts.The incident comes days after two young girls were swept away in the Tunga River near Arakeshwara Temple on the evening of Aug 24 (Monday).According to police, the girls’ mother, Bhavani, who had arrived from Chitradurga with her three children, stated at McGann District Hospital that her daughters, Sanvika, 5, and Tanvika, 3, slipped and fell into the river while walking on the bridge to get a view of the river.Bhavani then jumped into the river along with her 11-month-old son in an attempt to save them. Two local youths, Dadapeer and Naveen, rescued Bhavani and her infant. However, police said Sanvika and Tanvika were carried away by the strong current.Firefighters conducted intensive underwater and bankside searches for three days, but the two girls remain untraced. Kote police registered a case and are investigating.Suicide attempt averted in KargalAmid the recent water-related tragedies, swift action by members of the public and police prevented another death at the Bidarur Canal under Kargal police station limits in Sagar taluk Wednesday evening.Local fishermen noticed a young woman from Tumakuru lingering near the canal for an unusually long time and alerted Kargal police and ERSS-112. Officers from the emergency response vehicle (ERV), including Annappa, Sandeep, Purushotham, and Raghavendra, rushed to the spot and stopped the woman as she ran toward the canal to jump.She was brought to the police station, where she said she had travelled to Jog Falls with friends and intended to end her life due to personal reasons. Police contacted her parents to ensure her safe return home.
