Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jan 26: On Thursday night around 7:30 pm, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded as a father pleaded with the public for help in finding his missing daughter. However, thanks to the quick thinking and collaborative efforts of a group of journalists, the girl was successfully traced and reunited with her parents within an hour.

The incident occurred while the journalists were en route to Joyida. Taking a break by the roadside, they witnessed the distressed father seeking assistance. A woman passing by provided a crucial piece of information – the missing girl had boarded a KSRTC bus bound for Bagalkot.

Acting swiftly, the journalists shared the details of the girl, along with a photograph, with Udupi superintendent of police (SP) Dr Arun K. Simultaneously, they contacted the station controller at the Udupi KSRTC bus stand. SP Dr Arun K. further called the KSRTC control room, instructing them to locate the girl on the bus heading to Bagalkot. The girl's mother also arrived, and the information was relayed to the KSRTC control room in Udupi.

KSRTC officials, in coordination with Udupi police, successfully located the girl on the Bagalkot-bound bus at the KSRTC bus stand in Udupi. The journalists, along with the girl's parents, travelled from Mulky to Udupi, where the girl was reunited with her family.

The rescue operation, led by Mohan Kuthar, a member of the executive committee of the Karnataka Working Journalists' Association, and involving members Shashi Bellayaru, Girish, and Sandesh Shetty, showcased the proactive role media professionals can play beyond reporting.

Udupi police have expressed their appreciation for the journalists' presence of mind and their dedicated efforts in ensuring the safe rescue of the missing girl.