On a rainy Sunday evening in Karnataka’s Udupi district, a tragic incident occurred when a 23-year-old man named Sharath Kumar slipped and fell into a waterfall while filming an Instagram Reel. The incident took place at the Arasinagundi waterfalls, just 6 km from Kollur village, and was witnessed by his friend who recorded the unfortunate event.
In the viral video, the man can be seen standing on a rock near the swollen waterfall, which had been affected by heavy rainfall in the state. Losing his balance, he fell into the cascading water and was swiftly swept away by the strong current.
Emergency services and the police promptly arrived at the scene to conduct a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, the man’s body could not be found. The search operation will continue today.
The Udupi district has experienced torrential rains in the past couple of days, leading to flooding in several areas. Nandavara, Aladka, and Gudina areas near Bantwal taluk were severely affected, with water entering homes and forcing residents to evacuate.
As the southwest monsoon remains active, there is a flood scare in Karnataka due to overflowing small streams and inundation of low-lying regions. Consequently, authorities have declared a holiday for schools and colleges in nine districts: Belagavi, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Hassan, Shivamogga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Kodagu.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in all three coastal districts of Karnataka: Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada. The situation remains critical, and precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of residents amidst the ongoing monsoon deluge.
