Balmuri Falls in Srirangapatna seems to have become a death trap, claiming the lives of 48 youths since 2008.
V Vignesh, a first-year B Com student of SBVI College, Mysore, who met watery grave at the falls on Tuesday, is the latest victim.
Hundreds of people, mostly youngsters, visit the Balmuri Falls during summer when the water level is low.
Though bathing and playing in the water is a soothing experience, it could turn dangerous for those who avoid the warning signs.
According to KR police, there is a rise in the number of accidents in the falls.
“Not knowing about the depth of the water or the presence of rocks under the water, the youngsters who try to get a taste of adventure, drown here,” a police official said. The police say that nine youths each have died in the river in 2008 and 2009. Eight youths drowned in 2010 while the number increased to 11 in 2011. Nine youths lost their lives in 2012.
“A techie Babu alias Lokesh (22) from Frazer Town drowned in the river on January 20 this year. He came with his friends for a picnic,” police said.
All the 48 people, who lost their lives in the Balmuri Falls, were young men. “No woman had drowned in the past five years,” an official said. Another major concern is the beer bottles which are thrown in the river by miscreants. Shiva, a medical store owner from Kuvempunagar, Mysore, was injured seriously when a beer bottle pierced his right foot.
The police blame bar and restaurants which were popping up near Balmuri Falls on the Mysore-Bangalore Road, for these incidents.
They say youths, who get drunk and visit the falls, were most vulnerable.