Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 18: Prajwal (16), a tenth standard student from Mysore who had recently appeared for the SSLC examination, and had come to the district on a pilgrimage with his family members, was washed away by strong waves while playing at Malpe beach on Sunday April 17. He was the son of Jayaprkaash, who runs a printing press in Mysore.

The family had begun their pilgrimage on Saturday, along with their neighbours. After visiting temples at Horanadu, Sringeri, and Koppa on Saturday, the pilgrims had visited Srikrishna Mutt on Sunday morning. After paying obeisance to the deity, they reached Malpe beach in the afternoon. Prajwal, who was playing with the other children who had come with him, was suddenly dragged away by a giant wave. Satish, who was accompanying the family, tried to save the boy, but he too was snatched away by the waves. Locals, Anil, Ramesh and Chandappa, who saw that these two were in danger, pulled both of them ashore with the help of a rope. But Prajwal’s position had turned precarious by then, and he could not be saved. Satish also was in a critical condition. He was admitted into a private hospital in Udupi, where he is being treated.

It is gathered that Prajwal was a brilliant student, and excelled in extra curricular activities too. He is survived by parents and a sister who studies in sixth standard. The entourage was to return to Mysore on Monday.

The locals attributed the tragedy to the absence of Green Police, appointed recently to avert such incidents. Even when they are present, they never warn people not to venture into water, they said. One of the eyewitnesses felt that the boy could have been saved if there was a proper road to bring vehicles near the sea, in which case, the time lag involved in treating the could have been cut down.