DAVANAGERE: Two members of a family, who had gone to wash a tractor in the Tungabadhra river bed at Gutture village in Harihar taluk, died after drowning on the eve of Deepavali Amavasya.
The deceased have been identified as Parashuram (14) and his uncle Annappa (45). There were deep pits created by sand mining activities, and the victims got stuck in one of them and drowned.
Despite rescue efforts by locals, both succumbed to the tragedy.The incident sparked outrage among villagers, who blamed illegal sand mining for the deaths.
The tragedy occurred under the jurisdiction of Harihar Rural police station.