What was meant to be a happy family picnic turned into a heartbreaking tragedy in Karnataka on Tuesday afternoon. A family of 15 from Tumakuru town had gone to visit relatives in Magadipalya village, near the border of Mandya and Tumakuru districts, about 100 km from Bengaluru. Post lunch, some of them visited the nearby Markonahalli Dam, a popular picnic spot built across the Shimsha River. None of them could have imagined that this casual visit to a Karnataka dam would end in such a tragedy.
Sudden Water Release At Karnataka’s Markonahalli Dam Sweeps Away Seven
According to the Times of India, the police said seven members of the family, including two women and two small children, were playing in the shallow waters when the crest gates of the dam suddenly opened around 3:30 pm. This sudden, automatic release of water created such a strong surge that it swept all seven away within moments. Standing farther away, the rest of the family members watched helplessly as their loved ones were pulled under by the rushing current.
Rescue teams quickly reached the spot, but by then it was too late for two women, Sajiya and Harbeen, both around 40 years old, Times of India reported. Their bodies were recovered a few hours later. Four others, Tabassum, Sabana, Mifra (4 years old), and Maheeb (1 year old), remain missing, and a search is still underway. One man, Nawaz (30), was rescued but is in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
Rescue Operations Continue
Mandya Superintendent of Police, Mallikarjun Baladandi, confirmed that the dam gates opened automatically and that around 15 people were at the site when the water was released, as per the Times of India reports. Until sunset, the local authorities, fire department officials, and divers worked tirelessly to search for the missing. However, the efforts are set to resume early Wednesday morning.
The question remains, why did the dam gates open suddenly? Was a warning system in place? The officials are currently investigating the cause of this unfortunate accident. In fact, locals are also concerned, saying that many tourists who visit dams during the monsoon season are unaware of these risks.
The entire community has been impacted by this tragic accident, of course. The family couldn’t have known that their simple picnic plans could result in such an unfathomable loss.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/Comstock
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