Two techies from Bengaluru are feared to have drowned at Mekedatu in Ramanagara after one of them slipped into the Cauvery river on Sunday.
Bhavani Shankar (29) and Sameer Rahman (29), residents of Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru are natives of Bidar in North Karnataka.
Bhavani and Sameer along with two other friends Amit and Srikanth decided to visit Mekedatu by bike on Sunday when the incident occurred.
The Cauvery river flows through a deep and narrow gorge in Mekedatu.
Sameer, who was trying to touch the water, slipped and fell into the water, according to Lokesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Channapatna Sub Division. "Immediately after this, Bhavani leaped in to save his friend and both of them were swept away by the gushing waters. The water levels in the area have been high after heavy rains recently," he told TNM.
Water levels at the Krishnarajasagara (KRS) dam had risen 60 feet more than usual as the 12 gates of the dam were open. The gates were opened after a week of heavy rains.
Amit and Srikanth sought help from locals and reached out to the police. Fire and Emergency Services were pressed into action in search of the missing duo. "Our teams started on Sunday and are still searching for the duo today (Monday) but the conditions are not ideal. The water levels are high the speed of the water is strong. We are finding it tough to find willing divers who will help in the search operations," added Lokesh.
The operation which was called off in the night on Sunday resumed on Monday morning with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) set to join the operation.