Four students of a government residential school drowned in the Arabian Sea during a school trip at Murudeshwar beach in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district on Tuesday.
The deceased have been identified as Deeksha, Lavanya, Shravanthi Gopalappa, and Lipika – all aged 15. Three more children have been rescued and are under treatment.
A police officer said 46 students and six school staff were playing on the beach. Seven students ventured into the sea at 5.30 pm on Tuesday disregarding the advice of lifeguards and four of them were swept away. The police recovered all four bodies by Thursday morning. The district administration and the police have temporarily banned public entry to Murudeshwara beach.
Announcing Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the families of the victims, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posted on X, “I have spoken to the deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada district and suggested that they make arrangements to bring the bodies to their hometowns. Teachers should be more careful with children during trips. Children should be supervised while visiting dangerous places. I can understand the pain and anguish of parents who have lost their children, I pray that such tragedies never happen again.”
Meanwhile, the police have booked the principal and six others for negligence. The government has also suspended the principal and dismissed six contractual teachers and Group D employees of the school.
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