Halagur: In a tragic incident, four members of a family and a car driver were drowned in Cauvery River at Muthathi in Malavalli taluk last evening. 

The deceased family members have been identified as Shwetha (38) and her daughter Chaitra (20) of Jagadapura Byadarahalli village, Virupakshipura hobli, Channapatna taluk of Bengaluru South, Vijiyamma (52) and Priyanka (28) of Kadalur village in Maddur taluk and car driver Mahesh (35) of Bengaluru. 

Details: Shwetha, Chaitra, Vijiyamma and Priyanka, along with their family members, had come to attend a post wedding function at Kabbalu Temple. 

After performing puja at the temple, they had their lunch and arrived at the tourist spot in Muthathi at Halagur hobli. 

After having darshan of the deity at Muthathiraya Temple, all the family members ventured into Cauvery River, where they played for some time and later began to click selfies during which Shwetha, Chaitra, Vijiyamma, Priyanka and four others slipped and fell into the river and were being drowned. 

Meanwhile, car driver Mahesh and Shwetha’s husband Ravi, who were standing on the banks of the river jumped into the river to rescue those who were drowning, but unfortunately Mahesh drowned along with four others. Only 42-year-old Ravi and three-year-old Lochan were saved. 

Villagers, who witnessed the incident, immediately informed Halagur Police, who rushed to the spot along with Fire & Emergency Services personnel, conducted an operation, fished out the five bodies from the river and shifted them to Malavalli Government Hospital for post-mortem. 

Mandya District Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr. V.J. Shobha Rani, Dy.SP Yashwanth Kumar and Halagur Sub-Inspector Lokesh visited the spot and conducted an inspection. Head Constable Govardhan, Mohan Kumar, Prashanth Kumar and Woman Police staff Geetha Anchinala were present. 

Halagur Police, who have registered a case in this regard, are investigating.