Two youths drown after boat capsizes in Phalguni river in Karnataka's Mangaluru

A tragic fishing accident in the Phalguni river has left one youth dead and another missing , officials said, as search operations continue nearly two days after the boat capsized during the early hours of April 1 . The incident occurred in the Kunjathbail area under the Kavoor police station limits when a small country boat overturned while three friends were fishing.

The deceased has been identified as Ganesh (28) , whose body was recovered from the river by firefighters and local diving experts, while efforts to trace the second youth, Royal (24) , remain ongoing, police said.

The third companion, Nithesh (29) , also a resident of Kunjathbail, managed to swim to safety , according to authorities. Police said the three had set out for fishing around 1:30 am on Tuesday night , and the boat suddenly overturned as they reached the middle of the river, throwing all three into the water. Ganesh and Royal did not know how to swim and were swept away by the strong current, while Nithesh reached the riverbank on his own.

Fire and Emergency Services personnel, supported by local divers , launched an intensive search operation after being alerted to the mishap. Ganesh’s body was recovered by Wednesday afternoon, but Royal’s body has not yet been found , officials said.

A case has been registered at Kavoor police station, and investigators are examining all circumstances surrounding the mishap. Authorities have urged people to exercise caution while venturing into rivers for fishing, particularly late at night, and to ensure adequate safety measures.