Eight of a family drown in Tungabhadra

Accident spot:Rescuers searching for bodies in the Tungabhadra at Madalgatti village near Hadagali town in Bellary district on Tuesday.

BELLARY: Eight persons, including two women, from one family drowned in the Tungabhadra at Madalgatti village near Hadagali town in Bellary district on Tuesday.All the eight, along with 10 others, had come from Gadag-Betageri to immerse the ashes of a relative who died recently into the river near the ancient temple of Madalgatti Anjaneya.

Washed away

Krishnamurthy Hoskote, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hadagali, told The Hindu that after performing the rituals, Vishnusa (33), carrying the ashes, stepped into the river and was washed away in the wink of an eye by the strong current. The seven others tried to rescue him and were also washed away.According to an eyewitness, all the eight ignored the warning from people in the area and also the signboards asking people not to step into the river as there were strong currents following heavy rain upstream for the past couple of days. The dead are Vishnusa (33), Nagarajsa Baddi (45), Maniksa (48), Yellusa (80), Rajasa (40), Tikusa (40), Amruta (32) and Ambabai (50), some of whom were residents of Hubli. On getting the information, Mr. Hoskote and his staff rushed to the spot. After assessing the situation, he requisitioned the services of Fire and Emergency Services personnel besides local swimmers to retrieve the bodies. Local fishermen had already swung into action to trace the bodies, but none had been recovered till late in the evening.