The students were part of a 23-member group from SRM Medical College, Tiruchirapalli, who were on a vacation to Dandeli, Gokarna, and Murudeshwar.
Karwar: Two final-year MBBS students from Tamil Nadu drowned while watching the sunset on Wednesday evening near the Jatayutirtha hill at Gokarna’s Kudle Beach in Uttara Kannada district.
The students were part of a 23-member group from SRM Medical College, Tiruchirapalli, who were on a vacation to Dandeli, Gokarna, and Murudeshwar.
According to a press statement by the Uttara Kannada District Police, the group had reached Gokarna from Dandeli on the evening of April 24. Their guide, Gandhi (23) from Iramathur, Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, had taken them to the Jatayutirtha coast near Kudle Beach to view the sunset, when the mishap occurred around 6.20 pm.
The victims, Kanimoli (23) and Hinduja (23), were swept away by strong waves. Both were final-year MBBS students at SRM Medical College and Research Centre in Tiruchirapalli. Despite a rescue attempt by a local resident, Maniraju, he too found himself in danger due to the rough sea conditions.
Adventure boat services stationed at Kudle Beach quickly responded and brought the two students and Maniraju to shore. All three were rushed to the Gokarna Government Hospital, where doctors declared the two students dead. Maniraju survived.
The remaining students, who were traumatised by the incident, were provided first aid and necessary arrangements were made for their stay. Authorities have informed the families of the deceased students. The bodies were shifted to the Karwar District Hospital mortuary, awaiting the arrival of their families from Tamil Nadu.
A case has been registered at the Gokarna Police Station under BNS Section 106(1) (culpable negligence) against the tour guide Gandhi and Vetri Selvan, owner of Vetri Tours & Travels in Chennai. Police stated that the guide took the students to a dangerous spot without any safety measures. The tour operator has also been held responsible for assigning an unqualified and negligent guide.
Uttara Kannada police visited the site and provided further directions to investigating officers as part of the ongoing probe into the case.
