Bhatkal: Tragedy struck at Murdeshwar beach as a 22-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy lost their lives in a drowning incident in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm on Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Ismail Barmawar, son of the late Maulana Iqbal Barmawar Nadvi, a resident of Bhatkal Qidwai Road, and 13-year-old Mohammed Khaleel, son of T. Nadeem, from Hirekerur in Haveri district.

Reports indicate that 18 students from a summer camp, located at a school in Sagar in the neighboring district of Shimoga, had arrived in Bhatkal on Sunday morning for a picnic. In the evening, they visited Murdeshwar beach. It is reported that while some of the students were enjoying the waves, four of them were suddenly overwhelmed by the high waves of the sea.

An eyewitness, who was at the beach with his family, observed the four individuals struggling in the sea. Immediate rescue efforts were initiated, and a rescue boat was dispatched. Two of the boys were successfully rescued and brought ashore with the help of a jet ski boat. Though initially unconscious, they were revived. Unfortunately, the other two individuals were engulfed by the waves before they could be reached. A speedboat was deployed, and both were retrieved from the sea. Despite efforts to revive them on the shore, they could not be saved and succumbed to the incident.

Upon the news spreading on social media, several individuals from Bhatkal, including members of prominent social organizations Majlise Islah wa Tanzeem, rushed to Murdeshwar RNS Hospital. Following necessary procedures, both bodies were transported to Bhatkal Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. It has been reported that Ismail Barmawar, one of the deceased, was an experienced swimmer.

A case has been registered at Murdeshwar police station.

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