Five Bengaluru Residents Drown in Cauvery River Near Muthathi

Five residents of Bengaluru's Byadarahalli area, including four members of the same family and their driver, drowned in the Cauvery River near Muthathi in Mandya district on Wednesday evening.

The tragedy occurred around 4:00 PM when the group entered a deep section of the river to take photographs and subsequently attempted a rescue.

The deceased have been identified as Chaitra, 20, Shwetha, 38, Vijayamma, 50, Priyanka, 28, and their driver, Mahesh. The group was visiting the region as part of a pilgrimage.

According to the Mandya District Police, the family of six, which included a four-year-old child, had travelled from Channapatna and Bengaluru. They first visited the Kabbalamma Temple before arriving at the Muthathiraya Temple in Muthathi.

After offering prayers, the group went to the nearby Cauvery River. Mandya District Superintendent of Police Shobha Rani stated that the group entered the water believing it was shallow. Home Guards stationed at the location had reportedly warned them not to venture deep into the river.

"They entered the water and were taking pictures. The water was only around knee-deep at the edge, and they ventured further, underestimating the depth and the strength of the current," SP Rani said.

Police reports indicate that Vijayamma was the first to slip into a deeper section of the river and struggled against the strong current. Chaitra, Shwetha, Priyanka, and Mahesh rushed in to rescue her, but they were also caught in the undercurrent and swept away.

Another family member, Ravi, attempted to save them but was pulled to safety by local residents. The four-year-old child escaped the incident unharmed.

Following the incident, Fire and Emergency Services personnel, along with local residents, launched a search operation. They recovered all five bodies by approximately 7:30 PM.

The bodies were shifted to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The Halagur police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.