A tragic incident occurred in the backwaters of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam in Karnataka, where a couple from Kerala lost their lives after their boat capsized. The deceased have been identified as Sajeev and his wife Sindhu, residents of Palakkad district in Kerala.
Incident Details
The couple was on a leisure trip to the KRS backwaters, a popular tourist destination near Mysuru. They had hired a small boat to explore the scenic waters. However, the boat reportedly toppled due to strong winds and rough waters, throwing both of them into the deep reservoir.
Eyewitnesses alerted the authorities, and a rescue operation was immediately launched. Local fishermen and rescue teams from the Fire and Emergency Services department rushed to the spot. After an extensive search, the bodies of Sajeev and Sindhu were recovered.
Rescue and Investigation
The rescue operation involved divers and boats from the Karnataka State Disaster Response Force (KSDRF) and the local police. The bodies were sent to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examination.
Police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating the circumstances that led to the capsize. Preliminary reports suggest that the boat might have been overloaded or that adverse weather conditions contributed to the accident.
Tourist authorities have been advised to enforce safety measures, including the mandatory use of life jackets and adherence to capacity limits for boats operating in the backwaters.
Reactions
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and the victims' hometown in Kerala. Family members and friends expressed their grief and demanded a thorough investigation.
Karnataka Tourism Minister expressed condolences to the bereaved family and assured that strict action would be taken against any negligence. The minister also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin.
Local authorities have been directed to review safety protocols for water-based tourism activities to prevent such accidents in the future.
