Father-son duo drowns in well in Kundapur; mother rescued by neighbours
Kundapur: In an incident from near the Thekkatte fish market in the taluk, a debt-ridden man, Madhava Devadiga (55), and his son Prasad (22) who reportedly tried to rescue him died of drowning in a well on Thursday morning.
The deceased man’s wife Thara, who also tried to save them from drowning, was rescued by the neighbours. She is currently under treatment in hospital.
The family, which was native to Kundapur, was living in a rented house near the fish market in Thekkatte for the last seven years. Devadiga and his son Prasad are learned to have been working at a Reliance petrol bunk and Thara was employed at the Chandika Shri Durga Parameshwari Temple of Kumbhashi.
On Thursday morning, a woman in the neighbourhood reportedly heard sounds of people screaming from inside the well and, on inspection, she saw Thara struggling for survival. The woman immediately alerted the neighbours, who entered the well and rescued Thara. As she was in a critical condition, she was taken to hospital, where she is currently being treated.
Devadiga and his son Prasad, however, are said to have drowned in the waters of the well. The fire brigade staff who were informed and arrived at Thekkatte retrieved the bodies of the duo. The bodies have been taken to Kundapur for a post-mortem examination.
Kota Sub-inspector Raghavendra C arrived at the spot and conducted an inspection. An investigation of the matter is underway. Devadiga is suspected to have committed suicide following heavy debts.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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UAE-based Indian doctor Shamsheer Vayalil announces Rs 6 crore aid for Air India crash victims
Dubai, Jun 17 (PTI): UAE-based Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced Rs 6 crore in financial aid for the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The ill-fated aircraft struck the BJ Medical College's Atulyam hostel complex during lunch hour, reducing student residences and the dining hall to rubble.
All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8(AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed when the London-bound aircraft crashed, moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Announcing the relief from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Dr Shamsheer, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings and managing director of VPS Health, said he was deeply shaken when he saw the aftermath of the crash.
As someone who had lived in similar hostels during his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore and Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, the images struck a chord, he said.
“I saw the footage from the mess and the hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home, the corridors, the beds, the laughter, the pressure of exams, and the anticipation of a call from family,” he said.
“No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he added.
“Those students started the day thinking about lectures, assignments, and patients. Their lives ended in a way none of us could ever imagine. It hit close. Too close,” he said.
Dr Shamsheer’s relief package includes Rs 1 crore for each of the four deceased students’ families, Rs 20 lakh each for five seriously injured students, and Rs 20 lakh each for the families of doctors who lost loved ones.
The financial assistance will be delivered in coordination with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, ensuring that those in need receive support swiftly.
This is not the first time Dr Shamsheer has responded to such a crisis. In 2010, following the Mangalore air crash, he provided financial assistance and employment opportunities to affected families at Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East.
