A tragedy that could have been avoided

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 3. The tragedy that struck the students of Seshadripuram College, four of whom were drowned near Mangalore on Wednesday, could have been avoided had the bus in which they were travelling did not break down.

Thirty-seven students of third semester BCA and five lecturers left for an educational tour to Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, Madikeri, and Mangalore on September 29. They were scheduled to return on Tuesday morning.

``The bus broke down and their journey was delayed by a day. As the bus was being repaired, the students might have gone to the beach to spend some time,'' the college Principal, Prof. K.E.Radhakrishna told The Hindu.

He said had the students returned to Bangalore on Tuesday morning itself, the tragedy could have been avoided.

``One of the lecturers telephoned the vice-principal on Tuesday night and told that the journey had been delayed and the students were safe,'' Prof. Radhakrishna said.

After learning that four students were drowned, Prof. Radhakrishna, the President of Seshadripuram Education Society, Mr. T.V.Maruthi and Secretary, Mr. Purushottam, came to the college. Arrangements were made to inform the parents about the mishap.

Prof. Radhakrishna and a few officials of the college left for Mangalore late this evening to bring the bodies.

Some anxious parents rushed to the college to know about their children's safety. Despite being told that her son, Praveen, was safe, his mother kept weeping inconsolably at the college premises.

Ms. Gayathri, a lecturer at the Seshadripuram Junior College, was also in tears. Her son was one among the students who had gone on tour after finishing their third semester examination last week.

``While the students were getting into the bus on the night of September 29, I told the lecturer, Mr. Siddaraju, not to allow the boys to bathe in the rivers, which were overflowing due to heavy rains. I also told him that this was not the right season for going on a tour to places such as Mangalore and Madikieri,'' Mr. Thyagaraj, Assistant General Manager, HMT, and father of one of the students told The Hindu,

Prof. Radhakrishna said the students who were drowned were from Bangalore.

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