Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Apr 17: A lecturer of Maratha Mandal Engineering College here came as a saviour for students when they were drowning at Vayri Beach at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on Saturday.

Several students who were at the scene of the tragedy at the time have shared memories of their adventurous lecturer who fought in the midst of heavy odds to save the lives of his students, but paid a heavy price in the form of his life. The lecturer in question was Mahesh Kudachakar.

When a giant wave lashed the shore and was pulling away a number of students, Mahesh jumped into the sea and rescued two students. When he was trying to save another one, he himself drowned, in spite of being a good swimmer. It is learnt that Mahesh had married a year back, and he had lost his father six months ago.

Mahesh Kudachakar

One of the surviving students said that the group of students had visited Vayri beach when returning after the study tour. The students chose to enter the sea a little away from the spot where fishermen were working at the beach. When a huge wave hit their friends, initially other students thought that they were still playing in water. After coming know that they were facing grave danger, they started to shout, after which the fishermen who were away came with boats and brought the bodies out, he revealed.

Out of eight bodies which were brought to the city in four ambulances, funeral of three were performed on Sunday morning in the graveyards here.

The police said that during their investigation, they came to know that the study tour was not conducted with the approval of college management. Deputy commissioner of police, V Radhika, said that even the eyewitnesses said that the students were adamant with their decision to enter the sea even after having been advised by fishermen against it. So far, no complaints have been registered with the department, she revealed.