11 Drown While Collecting Mussels in Karnataka River, PM Expresses Grief

What began as a routine seasonal livelihood activity for a family in coastal Karnataka ended in unimaginable tragedy after 11 members of an extended family drowned in the swollen waters of the Tatte Hakkalu river near Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district . The final missing person’s body was recovered on Monday morning, bringing the death toll from the devastating incident to 11.

The victims, all residents of Shirali village in Bhatkal taluk, had ventured into the river near Alvekodi to collect freshwater mussels, a traditional practice common among coastal communities during this season. Police sources said nearly 14 members of the family had entered the water when the river current suddenly intensified following heavy rainfall in the region.

According to officials, one or two members were initially swept away after moving into deeper waters. In a desperate attempt to rescue them, several others jumped into the river, only to be trapped by the powerful current themselves. The tragedy unfolded within minutes, leaving entire families shattered.

Rescue operations continued through the night with teams from the police, local fishermen, disaster response personnel and volunteers participating in the search mission. The body of the final missing victim, identified as Mahadev Naik , was recovered during a joint operation involving the NDRF and local rescue teams led by noted coastal rescuer Eshwar Malpe .

Authorities said many among the victims were experienced in mussel collection and had undertaken similar activities earlier. However, sudden rain-fed surges and rapidly rising water levels appear to have caught the group off guard. Two women, Nagaratna and Mahadevi , were rescued alive and are undergoing treatment in hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the families of each deceased victim, while the injured would receive Rs 50,000 . Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each victim and described the incident as “extremely tragic and painful.” President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the loss of lives.