Two tourists from Bengaluru (including a 22-year-old woman) died, while another person is missing after an accident at Dibbanashesi Beach in Gokarna district of Uttara Kannada on Sunday. The incident took place when a group of private company employees from Bengaluru went into the sea for swimming during their holiday. What was supposed to be a fun outing for the group of friends has now turned tragic. The deceased have been identified as Shobha Das (22) and Akram. Vishwesh A.K., who is missing, has been identified by police officials as the man.
The tourists were part of a group of 16 employees working at Alorica India Private Limited (a private call centre in Bellandur, Bengaluru). Police said the employees had planned the trip to celebrate a bonus given by their company. They went to Gokarna for recreation and reportedly booked accommodation at a private resort. The employees were spending time together as part of their celebration when tragedy struck at the beach.
According to preliminary reports, the group entered the sea to swim, but soon it became dangerous as they went into the water. The tourists were said to be around 15–16 feet away from shore when the waves started increasing in sea. With more waves, it was difficult for them to return safely to the beach. Strong currents and rough conditions reportedly put swimmers in danger, which caused people along the shoreline to become concerned immediately.
Locals who saw the tourists struggling in the water alerted lifeguards. Fishermen and other local people too rushed to sea to rescue those caught in waves. Their timely action started the rescue operation as several people worked together to bring the tourists back to safety but still two lives were lost. Shobha Das and Akram were reportedly rescued from water and taken towards hospital for medical help but both died on way to hospital.
Meanwhile Vishwesh A.K., who was also part of the group is still missing. Search operations were launched after the incident to trace the missing tourist. Rescue teams and local authorities are searching for him. The disappearance has added to the anxiety of families and colleagues of the tourists who were looking forward to a good holiday in the coastal town. Police officials are monitoring the situation and coordinating the search operation with rescue teams.
Gokarna Police Inspector Sridhar confirmed the incident and said the search for the missing person was going on. The police are also collecting more details about what happened that led to the tragedy. Authorities will examine the sequence of events, the conditions of the sea when tourists entered the water, safety measures available at the beach, etc.
The incident has once again brought home the dangers of swimming in the sea along Karnataka’s coastal belt where tides, strong currents and sudden waves can be very dangerous to visitors. Even shallow water becomes dangerous when sea conditions change suddenly. Tourists visiting beaches should follow lifeguard instructions; do not go into the sea if conditions are rough and stay within the swimming zone.
The Gokarna beach tragedy is a painful reminder of beach safety and responsible tourism. Thousands come to coastal destinations for relaxation and adventure but the sea can be unpredictable without warning. Vishwesh A.K.’s search continues as authorities and rescue teams look for him and provide further updates on the incident.
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