Mandya: A tragedy was averted due to the efforts of two youth who risked their lives to save six people, including four women, from drowning in Hemavathi river at Akkihebbal on Saturday.
The incident took place when officials at Gorur Hemavathi dam released water to KRS dam without informing the villagers. Six people namely- Latamani, Komala, Mahadevamma, Rajamani, Cheluvanayaka and Lakshman were washing clothes near the river bank when they got washed away due to the sudden surge of water.
Hearing their screams, Ravi and Lokesh who were nearby jumped into the river and managed to rescue them.
The villagers later staged a protest and blocked Akkihebbal road for a while, alleging that the dam authorities did not inform them about the release of water.