THIPPEGONDANAHALLI: The search teams, which had scanned almost all the regions of the Thippegondanahalli reservoir for the bodies of two actors who had drowned on Monday, were able to fish out one of them, on Wednesday. Uday Raghav’s body was found in a deformed state as it was inside the water for two days.
Coincidentally, the body was recovered as Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V Shankar and DIG Fire and Emergency Services, H S Revanna, entered the reservoir area to take stock of the operation, around 3.30 pm. One of the officials in the rescue team was able to spot the body, which appeared to be swimming backwards.
Speaking to Express, Shankar said, “We initially thought that it was another diver searching for the body. On close inspection, we realised that it was one of the actors who had drowned and pulled the body,” he said.
Revanna said it appeared that Uday had suffered an injury to his nose, which might have been a factor for his drowning. “His nose appeared swollen, compared to other parts of the body which was underwater for two days,” he said. He estimated that the duo had drowned at a spot which was about 80 feet deep.
Spot autopsy
There was high drama around the reservoir as soon as the body was brought to the banks.
While cries of despair from family members of Uday rang around, movement of the ambulance, which was to carry the body to a hospital was also obstructed.
As people tried to get a peep of the deformed body, police faced some difficulties.
It was also decided to conduct the autopsy of the deceased at the spot. The doctor from the taluk health centre of Bengaluru South taluk performed the autopsy in the presence of police officials.
Family members of Uday — his mother Kausalya and sister Asha — were inconsolable.
The body was brought to his house near K R Road on Wednesday and is expected to be kept for public display on Thursday.
The last rites of Uday are expected to be performed on Thursday and the body will be cremated at Banashankari crematorium.
Guidelines
Home Minister G Parameshwara visited the spot after the body was fished out and said that the state government would issue security guidelines which would ensure safety for actors performing such dangerous stunts. “I will also discuss with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about providing compensation for the family members,” he said.
Actors Shivarajkumar, NeeNaSam Satish and others visited the spot, while Duniya Vijay continued to assist the team in search operations. Like Tuesday, teams of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, local fisherman and divers from Mangaluru participated in the rescue operation. Softeners and other tools were used to ensure that the bodies are not held down by the vegetation or silt.
After the body was found, attempts to find Anil’s body intensified. However, the body could not be found.