KARWAR: Four people from Bengaluru drowned at Kagal village in Kumta taluk on Saturday afternoon. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered.
The deceased were part of a group of 80 people from a chartered accountancy training firm who had come to a private resort on Kagal beach. Police said some of them had stepped into the sea for a swim despite being warned of choppy waters.
Arjun, 23, a resident of Kasturinagar, Chaitrashri, 22, of Peenya II Cross, Tejas Damodar A, 22, of JP Nagar, and Kiran Kumar Mariraj G, 27, a resident of Kanakapura, got pulled into the sea by strong waves.
Ganesh Naik, an advocate from Kumta, was able to drag Chaitrashri from the water, but she died on the way to a hospital in Kumta. Arjun's body was recovered by Coastal Security Police with the help of locals. But Tejas and Kiran Kumar are still missing. Arjun and Kiran Kumar were employees of the firm and the rest were undergoing CA training.
The sea is rough and even fishermen are not allowed to venture into deep waters for fishing by the authorities. Despite this, the group went for a swim, police said.
Last year, Kumta taluk administration had imposed Section 144 on beaches to prevent people from venturing into the sea, especially during monsoon and windy weather conditions. Despite that, those who have no knowledge about the waves and whirlpools enter the sea and drown, said locals.
Meanwhile, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services warned local fishermen not to step into the sea till June 28.
