Update 27/01/2026
In the tourist boat accident that occurred on Monday morning near the Delta Beach in Kodibengre, another young woman has succumbed to her injuries, raising the death toll to three.
Disha (26) from Mysuru, who was undergoing treatment in critical condition, breathed her last. Earlier on Monday, Shankarappa (22) and Sindhu (23) had also died in the same incident.
Malpe, January 26, 2026: A tragic tourist boat accident at the confluence of river and sea near Hangarakatte shipbuilding area, close to Kodibengre Beach, claimed two lives and left one person in critical condition on Monday afternoon.
The deceased have been identified as Shankarappa (27) from Harave village, Chamarajanagar district, and Sindhu (25) from Moogooru, Narasipur taluk, also from Chamarajanagar. Disha (26) is in critical condition and undergoing treatment in ICU, while Dharmaraj (26) is currently stable. All four victims were employees at a BPO call centre in Mysuru.
A group of 28 colleagues from the Mysuru call centre arrived in Udupi by bus on Sunday for a holiday trip. They stayed overnight at a homestay near Malpe and proceeded to Kodibengre Delta Beach on Monday morning. Around 10:00 AM, they boarded two boats (14 persons each) for a sea excursion.
At approximately 12:00 noon near Kodikanyana, one boat capsized after being hit by strong waves at the river-sea confluence point. All 14 occupants fell into the water. Only some were wearing life jackets.
Local fishermen Nagaraj, Vishwanath Shriyan, and Dinesh Karkera, who were nearby, immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the struggling tourists, bringing them safely to shore. The four seriously affected persons were shifted to Manipal hospital. Despite treatment, Shankarappa and Sindhu succumbed to their injuries.
A case has been registered at Malpe Police Station, and investigation is underway.
Minister’s Condolences and Instructions: Women and Child Development Minister and Udupi District In-charge Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of two tourists in the boat tragedy. She prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed officials to ensure proper medical care and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Udupi MLA’s Reaction: Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna blamed negligence by the Tourism Department for the tourist boat tragedy. “Tourist boats operate without proper permits and safety measures despite repeated public complaints. The department has taken no action. Strict safety protocols must be enforced to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said.
Rescuer’s Statement: Fisherman Nagaraj, who participated in the rescue, said: “Because the tourists were wearing life jackets, we could save them easily. Otherwise, all would have drowned in the deep waters, leading to a much larger tragedy.”
SP’s Statement: Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar stated: “Action will be taken against the boat owner and driver for negligence in safety measures. We are investigating whether the boat had valid permission from the Fisheries and Tourism Departments. Tourist boats must mandatorily obtain permits from both departments.”
