Three school children drowned while fishing at Udupi beach

Udupi,: Tragedy struck the coastal village of Kirimanjeshwar in Byndoor taluk, Udupi district, after three children drowned while attempting to catch fish near the Koderi Hosahitlu beach on Tuesday evening.
According to reports, four boys, all students, had gone to the beach after playing volleyball. They ventured too far into the water without realizing its depth, resulting in three of them drowning. One boy managed to swim back to shore and alert local fishermen, who immediately rushed into the sea to rescue the others, but their efforts were in vain as the strong waves had already swept the boys away.
The deceased were identified as Ashish Devadiga (15), a Class 9 student at Kirimanjeshwar School; Suraj Poojari (16), a Class 10 student at the same school; and Sanketh Devadiga (18), a second-year PU student at Byndoor Pre-University College.
All three hailed from economically weak families dependent on daily wage work. Their sudden deaths have left their parents and the entire village in deep shock and grief.
Upon learning about the tragedy, Byndoor MLA Gururaj Gantihole visited the local primary health center, paid respects to the deceased children, and consoled the bereaved families.
Authorities and locals have urged tourists and residents to exercise extreme caution while visiting coastal areas. With unpredictable weather and strong undercurrents along the region’s beaches, even experienced locals can be caught off guard, making vigilance and restraint crucial for safety.