Udupi, Aug 6: A 16-year-old girl hailing from Madikeri drowned after she was washed away by powerful waves at Malpe beach in Udupi district Saturday night, police sources said.

The deceased has been identified as Manya. She had come along with her friend Yashaswini (16) from Madikeri to the beach.

Police officials said that the two girls were washed away in the sea, and that the Malpe lifeguard team rushed to bring them back to the shore. Manya died on the way to the hospital while her friend is now under treatment and stated to be out of danger.

The two girls had left their homes three days ago and spent time at Panambur beach in Mangaluru before reaching Malpe on Saturday evening, sources said, but did not give more information about the circumstances surrounding their trip.

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Bengaluru: Karnataka government’s initiative to provide eggs six days a week as an additional nutrient in the mid-day meal scheme has led to a significant increase in school attendance, according to the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL).

Officials stated that when eggs were previously provided twice a week, student attendance was at 93.5 percent, as reported by The Hindu. However, since the introduction of eggs six days a week, attendance has risen to an impressive 98.97 percent. Furthermore, the number of children eating eggs has increased by about four times compared to the number of students eating bananas — the other additional nutrient being provided in schools.

To combat malnutrition among school children, eggs, bananas, and groundnut chikkis have been distributed as supplementary nutrients along with mid-day meals in government and aided schools for students from Classes 1 to 10. With support from the Azim Premji Foundation for Development (APF), the state started providing eggs six days a week in September 2024. Students who do not consume eggs have been given bananas and chikkis. However, the government recently stopped distributing chikkis due to concerns about their quality.

“It has been observed that children’s attendance in schools has increased as eggs and bananas are being provided six days a week. This is a good development, as not only will malnutrition in children be reduced, but they will also develop academically,” K.V. Trilok Chandra, Commissioner, DPI, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

In terms of regional consumption, Kolar Educational District recorded the highest percentage of students consuming eggs at 84.16 percent, followed by Kodagu (83.89 percent), Hassan (81.26 percent), and Chikkamagaluru (79.49 percent), added the report.

On the other hand, Chikkodi Educational District had the lowest number of children consuming eggs, at 30.97 percent, followed by Belagavi (41.78 percent) and Bengaluru North (41.19 percent).