Death Toll Rises to 10 in Bhatkal River Tragedy During Pebble Collection Trip
Ten people lost their lives and several others were hospitalised after a group entered the Kalinakatta river near Shirali on Sunday morning.
Bhatkal: A tragic incident near Shirali in Bhatkal taluk claimed the lives of ten people on Sunday after a group that had gone to collect pebbles in the Kalinakatta river was swept away.
According to reports, 14 people had entered the river near Tattihaklu area when the tragedy occurred. Several members of the group reportedly drowned, while others fell seriously ill and were rushed to hospitals for treatment.The deceased have been identified as Lakshmi Madeva Nayak, Lakshmi Annappa Nayak, Mastamma Manjunath Nayak, Umesh Manjunath Nayak, Lakshmi Shivarama Nayak, Nagaratna Parameshwara Nayak, Manjamma Goyda Nayak, and Lakshmi Mahadeva Nayak, all residents of Saradahole in Shirali.
Jyoti Nagappa Nayak and Malathi Jattappa Nayak, who were admitted to RNS Hospital in Murudeshwar in critical condition, later succumbed despite medical efforts.
Search operations are still underway for Madeva Jattappa Nayak, who remains missing. Coast Guard personnel, local fishermen, and rescue teams are continuing efforts to trace him.
Two others, Nagaratna Eshwar Naik and Madevi Naik, who reportedly became seriously ill after consuming river water, have been shifted to Manipal Hospital for advanced treatment.
The incident created an atmosphere of grief across Bhatkal and nearby areas. Soon after news of the tragedy spread, thousands of people gathered at the Bhatkal Government Hospital where the bodies were brought.
Several senior officials and political leaders visited the hospital and met the grieving families. Among those who visited were Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sajjid Mulla, Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M, Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner J Mahesh, Tahsildar Nagendra Kolashetty, former MLA Sunil Naik, and Block Congress President Venkatesh Naik.
District Incharge Minister Mankal Vaidya, who was in Bengaluru at the time, immediately returned to Bhatkal after learning about the incident and met the affected family members late Sunday night.
