Boating accidents in Karnataka leave elderly couple dead, 1 missing

MANDYA: Two separate boating incidents within hours of each other at the backwaters of the Krishna Raja Sagara dam near Giriyarahalli left an elderly couple dead and a young man missing, casting a shadow over the region.In the first incident on Friday evening, 72-year-old Manjunath and his 70-year-old wife Jessie, residents of Bengaluru, lost their lives after a sailing training boat capsized. Police said the couple ventured into the backwaters along with their daughter, son-in-law and grandson when the boat, due to strong winds and rain, suddenly overturned. Although all occupants were wearing life jackets, the elderly couple reportedly succumbed to shock and drowning. Rescue teams managed to save the other three family members, but Manjunath and Jessie could not be revived. Their bodies were later retrieved and handed over to the family after completing legal formalities.Police said that the family was familiar with sailing activities and participated in similar outings in the past. A case has been registered at the KRS police station.In another incident at the same location, 26-year-old Madhu, a resident of Giriyarahalli village in Pandavapura taluk, went missing after his fishing boat overturned due to sudden strong winds. He reportedly went fishing on Friday evening when the weather turned rough, leading to the mishap.Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams intensively combing the backwaters to trace the missing youth. Both incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the KRS police station, and investigations are on.The twin tragedies have raised serious concerns about safety protocols and the dangers posed by unpredictable weather conditions in the backwaters, particularly during evening hours.