Seven members of family swept away while taking pictures at dam; one rescued, two bodies found, four including children missing

BENGALURU: In a tragic incident, seven members of a family were swept away while taking photographs in the backwater canal of the Markonahalli Dam in Tumakuru district on Tuesday. According to police, the shutters of the dam were unexpectedly opened while the group was clicking pictures, causing a sudden surge of water. Seven people, including women and children, were carried away by the strong currents downstream.

The 15-member family had gone on a leisure trip to the dam when the tragedy struck. According to witnesses, the water level was low when seven of them entered the water. However, moments later, water gushed in, sweeping all seven away.

Emergency personnel from the police and fire departments rushed to the scene upon receiving information. One man, identified as Navas, was rescued and admitted to Adichunchanagiri Hospital for treatment.

Fire and rescue teams later recovered the bodies of two victims, while the search for the remaining four continues. Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Ashok K. V. said efforts are underway to trace those still missing. The dam’s engineer attributed the sudden water flow to a natural increase in inflow. Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. At the same time, photographs clicked by the victims just moments before the tragedy have surfaced.