Yashodhar Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 29: An family of three had a providential escape from a near-death situation near at a dam attached to Soham mini hydel project at Hanneradu Kavalu, Moodbidri here on Friday August 29, after water was suddenly let out, allegedly without any warning.

A doctor couple and their daughter, residents of Badiadka in Kasargod, had come to Hanneradu Kavalu as tourists, having read about the spot in a newspaper recently.

The three got down into the water near the dam. All of a sudden, the dam gates opened, allegedly without warning, and water gushed in with great force. The couple and their child were swept away.

But as they were being pulled in by the water, the three of them used commendable presence of mind and held on to a log that was floating in the river. They struggled hard to keep afloat, and finally succeeded in reaching the river bank.

Meanwhile, a passerby saw they getting swept away in the river, and immediately alerted the dam officials, who in turn reduced the flow of the water through the dam.

Following the incident locals complained that the water from the dam is let out without any warning like siren and not even warning boards at put up at the spot.