Mysuru: A second-year medical student of Dayananda Sagar Medical College, Bengaluru, has drowned in River Cauvery at Bharachukki under Kollegal police limits.Nandan Gowda washed away at 1.30pm on Tuesday, and his body was retrieved from the water at 9am on Wednesday.According to Chamarajanagar SP BT Kavitha, Nandan’s body was found about 25 metres away from the spot where he was last seen.According to sources, seven students — six from Bengaluru, and one from Shivamogga — of the college got into the river near a dargah to take a dip. “When they were swimming, the water level increased suddenly in the river due to rain. Two students were able to cross the river safely, while four took refuge on a boulder in the middle of the river. But sadly, Nandan was washed away,” sources added.The fire and emergency services team, led by Kollegal taluk fire and emergency services officer Harish Kumar KB, conducted the search and rescue operation. They were able to rescue four students who were stranded, and continued their search operation for the missing student.The operation resumed at 7am on Wednesday, and the team traced the body within two hours. The body was handed over to the parents after a postmortem.As the water level in the river is fluctuating, people should not get into water, the officials advised.Meanwhile, DC Shilpa Nag urged the public and tourists to stay away from rivers and waterbodies. In a press release, she stated that people must be careful when visiting the Wesley Bridge, Hogenakkal Falls, Shivanasamudra, and Bharachukki Falls, as water levels may increase in the river any time owing to rainfall, and the release of floodwater from Kabini and KRS dams.
