Report and pics by Vivek C
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi: In another sad incident, Nishan (17) is feared to have drowned at the Kodi Bengere Coast near Hoode. Nishan was accompanied by his cousins Prashanth, Sushanth and Pavan. They are said to have gone early in the morning at 6.30 am to take a dip in the sea. This is considered to be a sacred bath on the day of the "Aati Amavasya".

"We went swimming ahead but Pavan did not come as he did not know how to swim" said Prashanth. "We were swimming and when we tried to place our leg down, we did not find land, I tried to stay afloat and hold Nishan, but his hand just slipped off", he added sadly.

At that time their uncle, Prabhakar Thingalaya, had just woken up and was walking down the beach to accompany the kids. He saw the boys drowning and jumped to their rescue. He screamed for a rope, but due to the loud noise of the waves no one could hear him. He somehow managed to reach Prashanth and save him.

"When I reached him, he quickly grasped me around my hands, that made it impossible for me to swim too, I somehow managed to free myself and push the boy ahead of me to the shore," said Prabhakar Thingalaya.

The police reached the spot not earlier than 8.30 am and no sort of rescue operation could take place in such rough weather and sea condition. However, the locals set off in 2 boats with their nets trying to find the body but their efforts were in vain.

As of the updates received at 1.00 pm, there is suspicion that the body was seen floating around the Hangarkatte region. The locals are trying their best to recover the body.