A second-year B.Com student swept away while swimming near the Bhadra dam
Shivamogga: A 20-year-old college student drowned in the Bhadra canal near Shivamogga after allegedly being swept away by the strong flow of water while swimming during a holiday outing with friends.
The deceased has been identified as Arjun, a second-year B.Com student of Sahyadri College and son of Yashoda and Mallikarjuna from Belavanthankoppa village near Shiralakoppa.
According to police sources, Arjun had visited the Bhadra dam area along with a group of friends as the college had declared a holiday. During the trip, he reportedly entered the canal alone for swimming when he suddenly lost control and was dragged away by the force of the water current.
His friends, shocked by the incident, immediately alerted local residents and informed the police.
Police and fire personnel launch a search operation
Following the alert, police officials and personnel from Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and launched a large-scale search operation in the canal.
Authorities searched nearly half a kilometre of the canal before finally tracing and recovering the student’s body from a distance downstream.
Officials said the strong current and depth of the canal made rescue efforts difficult.
Family and villagers in shock
The tragic death of the young student has left family members and residents of Belavanthankoppa village devastated.
Sources said Arjun’s father works as a home guard, and the family was deeply dependent on the student’s future aspirations and education.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the dangers of entering canals, reservoirs and dam areas during periods of strong water flow.
Police have advised the public, especially students and tourists, to avoid swimming in canals and restricted water bodies, as sudden currents can become fatal within seconds.
