Mangaluru(PTI): The body of a student, who was missing in the sea at Hoode beach near Malpe in Udupi district, was found on the shore on Monday, police sources said.

Two students drowned and the other was missing after they ventured into the sea for a swim on Sunday evening. They were washed away after getting caught in the current and high waves in the sea.

Malpe police identified the deceased as Shrikar Gupta from Vishakhapatnam. The other two who were drowned along with him are Nishant and Shanmuga, both from Bengaluru.

Nishant, Shanmukha and Shrikar were among the group of 15 students who had gone to the beach for a weekend outing.

All the students were from the international centre for applied sciences (ICAS) of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) at Manipal.

Local fishermen, fire service personnel and the police took part in the search for the missing student.

Udupi district superintendent of police Hakay Akshay Machhindra said the students had gone for a swim at an isolated and unsafe location at the beach which is not frequented by people. He advised tourists and students not to venture into the sea from unsafe spots.

 

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New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.