BELAGAVI: In a tragic incident reported from the Yamakanmardi area of Hukkeri taluka, two schoolboys drowned while swimming in the backwaters of the Hidkal reservoir near Shri Brahmadev Temple, located behind Halegudganatti village.
According to sources, five children from nearby villages had gone to the spot on their bicycles to swim as their school was closed for the day. The children, all students of Class 7, reached the backwaters around 10 am Krishna Vitthal Khanapuri (14) and Prajjwal Muttappa Gokar (14), both residents of Dudavi village, entered the water along with their friends. However, the riverbed at that location was deep, and the two boys, who reportedly did not know how to swim properly, were unable to return to the shore and drowned.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the fire brigade rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. After more than two hours of effort, the team recovered both bodies from the water.
The deceased boys were students of the Government Upper Primary School at RC village in Hattargi. The sudden loss has plunged their families and the local community into deep grief.