One group of people found together in the Uttara Kannada district near Bhatkal was caught up in a tragedy which claimed eleven lives as the group was swept away while trying to catch shellfish from the coastlines near the town of Alvekodi.
Mahadev Naik, one of 11 who perished, was found during an extensive search and is one of the 11 who perished. The disaster had occurred on the beach in Alvekodi, where people were gathering shellfish from rocks and shallow waters. But suddenly the group faced fierce waves and violent seas, thrusting many into deep waters, authorities said.
Troops and local rescue teams led by the National Disaster Response Force's Eshwar Malpe, the leading coastal rescuer, conducted search and rescue operations. The crew was able to find the missing body after painstaking searches along the shores and nearby waters.
#WATCH | Uttara Kannada, Karnataka: 11 people lost their lives after drowning while collecting mussels in the Tattihakkal River in Bhatkal yesterday
(Visuals from the spot, NDRF team is present here for the rescue and search operation) pic.twitter.com/T7JbmzSxV7— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026
Two women were rescued from the sea, while the other 11 people died as a result of the incident. The tragedy ripped family after family apart, and whole communities were grieving for loved ones lost.
Son Found Dead attempting to save Mother
Perhaps the saddest aspect of this tragedy is the alleged rescue of Umesh Naik’s mother, Mastamma Naik, who apparently died. Mastamma was collecting shellfish from the water while Umesh was collecting shells from rocks nearby, eyewitnesses told.
Umesh jumped headfirst into the ocean when he saw his mother struggling in choppy water. But powerful currents and his mother’s weight prevented him from dragging her to safety. As he tried to get back, two other people likely tried to grab on to his legs, trying to save their own lives and drowned them all.
Eyewitness Manjunath Naik detailed the horrific conditions, explaining that the victims were left powerless in the wake of the strong waves and currents. Many children were orphaned by the tragedy. Mahadev Naik and his wife, Lakshmi Naik, were among the deceased. The event resulted in the loss of both parents for two of their children, Darshan (23) and Keerthana (20).
#WATCH | Uttara Kannada, Karnataka: 11 people lost their lives after drowning while collecting mussels in the Tattihakkal River in Bhatkal yesterday. Rescue operation underway.
— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026
Visuals from the Government Taluk Hospital Mortuary pic.twitter.com/Aos4NDan0T
In an even more heartbreaking case, Lakshmi Shivaram Naik, who also died in the accident, had lost her husband almost 10 years ago. She was the sole caregiver for the four children, who are now at school. Her death has left the children destitute and their future unclear.
PM Narendra Modi Assesses Payment of Compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences after the disaster and promised help from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) as humanitarian cash, which would pay for finances.
The families of each deceased victim will receive ₹2 lakh; those who were physically injured in the incident will receive ₹50,000 each, the Prime Minister said. In a post on X, Modi expressed his deep sadness over what happened in Karnataka’s Karwar region and condolences to the families of affected individuals.
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕಾರವಾರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದ ದುರಂತದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೇಳಿ ತೀವ್ರ ಆಘಾತವಾಯಿತು. ತಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿಪಾತ್ರರನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂತಾಪಗಳು. ಗಾಯಗೊಂಡವರು ಶೀಘ್ರವಾಗಿ ಚೇತರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 24, 2026
ಮೃತರ ವಾರಸುದಾರರಿಗೆ ಪಿ.ಎಂ.ಎನ್.ಆರ್.ಎಫ್ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ತಲಾ 2 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಗಾಯಗೊಂಡವರಿಗೆ 50,000 ರೂಪಾಯಿ…
He also wished a prompt recovery for all the people injured in the accident. The incident highlighted these coastal communities that depend on shellfish collection and fishing in extreme seas as well. Authorities need to send out more robust safety advisories and educate residents about threats from unpredictable tides and waves.
