Madikeri/Surat: A Surat couple drowned while participating in an adventure boating activity at the Harangi backwaters near Ane Camp, within Kushalnagar limits of Karnataka’s Kodagu district, on Friday evening.The deceased were Dharmesh Naik (50), an architect, and his wife Nimmi (48), a teacher at Bhulka Vihar School in Adajan. The couple, residents of Pal in Surat, had gone to Coorg with their children, Anuj (21) and Devanshi (25), for a Diwali vacation.The family was participating in water sports organised by a private firm in collaboration with the forest and tourism departments when the boat capsized, trapping the couple underneath. Despite the prescribed safety arrangements, including life jackets, both drowned.According to Superintendent of Police Bindu Mani R N, the accident allegedly occurred due to negligence on the part of the boat operator, Pradeep, who has been booked in connection with the incident.Personnel from the water sports facility and Kushalnagar Rural police launched a rescue operation and recovered the bodies. They were taken to Kushalnagar Govt Hospital for postmortem examination, after which they were handed over to the couple’s children.Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident and the safety arrangements at the facility.Naik, who was associated with several charitable activities, was originally from Ashtagam village in Navsari district. Their bodies were expected to reach Surat late Saturday night. Their last rites will be performed at Jahangirpura crematorium on Sunday.
