Karwar (Karnataka), May 24 -- At least 10 members of a family, including seven women, died and two others remained missing after they were swept away by strong currents in the Tatte Hakkalu river in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district on Sunday while collecting freshwater mussels, police said.
The incident took place near Shirali village in Bhatkal taluk, where around 14 people had entered the river as part of a seasonal livelihood activity practised by some local communities. According to police sources, the group moved into deeper waters without fully assessing the water level when the current suddenly intensified due to rains in the region.
Officials said one or two people were initially swept away, prompting others to jump in to rescue them. Several were then caught in the fast-moving water.
Ten bodies had been recovered by Sunday, while rescue teams, police personnel and local residents continued search operations for the two missing people.
Eight of the deceased were identified as Umesh Manjunath Naik (40), Laxmi Mahadev Naik (42), Laxmi Jattappa Naik (30), Laxmi Appanna Naik (60), Laxmi Shivaram Naik (49), Jyoti Mastamma Naik (34), Malati Naik (38) and Mastamma Naik (60). The victims were all from Shirali.
Two survivors, Nagaratna and Mahadevi, were rescued and admitted to hospital.
President Droupadi Murmu described the incident as "very distressing" and offered condolences to the bereaved families while wishing the injured a quick recovery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained by the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the next of kin of each victim, saying he was deeply distressed by the tragedy. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka also mourned the deaths.
Police said the exact sequence of events and whether all the victims knew swimming were still being examined.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.