Team Mangalorean - Bantwal

Bantwal: Two workers engaged in the construction of a vented dam across a rivulet at Kesottur in Pilimogaru in the taluk were washed away around noon on Thursday, June 28.

Nine workers were working at the construction site. The work being mostly complete, loose earth was being filled on either side of the dam. Sumati Shetty (42), wife of Ashok Shetty of Paledamara, was crossing the dam. The flow of water is said to have soared suddenly and she got dragged away. Shekhar Poojary (30), another worker who was next to her, by immediate reflex, jumped into water to rescue her. He too got washed away.

Shekhar Poojary's body was found a kilometre away from the spot by 7 pm. Sumati's body has not been found until late in the night.

Shekhar was married, with a son of three years and his wife is seven months pregnant. The family is in deep shock and distress. MLA Ramanath Rai, tahsildar Anand Nayak and others visited the spot.