Surat Couple Drowns in Karnataka Boating Tragedy; Two Children Survive

A family holiday turned into a nightmare when a couple from Surat drowned after their boat capsized in the Harangi backwaters near Kushalnagar in Karnataka's Kodagu district. Their two children, who were also on board, survived the accident miraculously.

The deceased have been identified as 50-year-old Dharmeshbhai and his 48-year-old wife Nimmiben, natives of Gujarat who had travelled to Kodagu for a vacation with their two children.

High-Speed Turn Led to Capsizing

During their trip, the family boarded a vessel operated by Adventure Water Sports at the Harangi backwaters near Kushalnagar. According to preliminary information, the boat was moving at high speed when the operator lost control of the steering while taking a sharp turn, causing the vessel to overturn and throw all four family members into deep water.

Trapped Beneath the Boat Despite Life Jackets

All four members of the family were wearing life jackets as a safety precaution at the time of the ride. As soon as the boat capsized, nearby locals and water sports staff rushed to the spot to mount a rescue effort.

Rescuers managed to pull both children, who were floating in the water, to safety and brought them to the shore. However, Dharmeshbhai and Nimmiben became trapped directly underneath the overturned vessel. Despite wearing life jackets, the weight of the capsized boat prevented them from surfacing, and both drowned on the spot.

Rescue Operation by Police and Fire Brigade

The two children were left in deep shock after witnessing the tragedy unfold before their eyes. Upon receiving alerts about the accident, a team from the fire department and local police personnel rushed to the location.

Following an intensive joint rescue operation, fire brigade personnel and police successfully recovered the bodies of the couple from the water.