On Tuesday evening, five individuals, including four members of a family, drowned in the Cauvery River near Muthathi, a well-known tourist destination in Mandya district. This tragic event occurred during their visit to a temple. The victims have been identified as Shwetha, aged 38, Priyanka, 28, Chaithra, 20, and Vijayamma, aged 50, along with Mahesh, their driver. All the deceased hailed from Byadarahalli, located on the western outskirts of Bengaluru.

Sequence of Events

Earlier that day, the group visited the Kabbalamma Temple before travelling to the Muthathiraya Temple in Muthathi. After their spiritual visit, they headed to the nearby river, where the unfortunate incident transpired between 4:45 pm and 5 pm. According to police reports, the tragedy began when Vijayamma allegedly slipped into an unexpectedly deep section of the river while trying to take photographs.

In an attempt to rescue her, the other family members entered the water one after another, only to be swept away by the river’s strong current. Senior police officer Shobha Rani indicated that the four women believed the waters were shallow, despite warnings from Home Guards stationed in the vicinity. Rani stated, “The family had come for a temple visit. After darshan, they went near the river for photographs. Vijayamma was the first to get into difficulty, and the others tried to save her but were caught in the current.”

Among those present, Ravi, a relative of the victims, also attempted to assist them. He was fortunately rescued by locals and survived the ordeal. A four-year-old child who accompanied the group was unharmed during the incident.

Recovery and Investigation Efforts

Fire and Emergency Services responded to the scene and subsequently recovered all five bodies from the river. Authorities transferred the bodies to Mandya MIMS Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Following the incident, the Halaguru police have registered a case and are conducting an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the drownings.

Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that the victims may have misjudged the river’s depth and current. Although the surface appeared calm, strong underwater currents posed significant risks. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns surrounding popular riverbank locations, where visitors frequently disregard warning signs in pursuit of picturesque photographs.

This tragedy raises awareness about the need for enhanced safety measures at tourist sites, particularly near water bodies. Authorities are likely to review existing protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future and to educate visitors on the potential dangers of entering seemingly tranquil waters.

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