Three young women, all final-year engineering students from Mysuru, tragically drowned in the swimming pool of a resort near Ullal Beach, Karnataka, on Sunday. The victims, identified as Nishita M D (21), Parvati S (20), and Keerthana N (21), had arrived at the ‘Vazco’ resort for a leisure trip on November 16.
According to police reports, the incident unfolded when Nishita, who was unable to swim, entered the pool. In an attempt to save her, Parvati jumped in but both women began struggling in the water. Keerthana, also attempting to help, followed suit, but tragically, all three women drowned. None of the victims were familiar with swimming, and there was no lifeguard on duty at the time of the incident.
CCTV footage from the resort revealed the women frantically trying to call for help and stay afloat, but the area around the pool appeared deserted, with no response from the staff. The footage raised serious concerns about the resort’s handling of the emergency situation and its lack of preparedness for such incidents.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, who visited the site, confirmed that the three women had died from “accidental drowning.” He pointed out multiple lapses in the resort’s safety measures, including the absence of life-saving equipment, a lifeguard, and proper depth markings around the pool. Despite the resort employing seven staff members, none appeared to have intervened during the emergency.
In light of the tragedy, the authorities have sealed the resort and are taking steps to temporarily suspend its trade license and tourism-related permits. The Ullal police have launched a full investigation into the incident, focusing on the resort’s responsibility and the need for stricter safety protocols at such establishments to prevent future accidents.
The deaths of these three students have raised significant concerns about the safety standards at leisure and recreational facilities, especially in areas with high tourist traffic. This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of ensuring adequate safety measures at resorts, pools, and other recreational spaces to safeguard visitors’ lives.
Sources By Agencies
