Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Apr 18: In the past week, Dakshina Kannada district has witnessed the tragic loss of five adolescents and youths, plunging both their families and the community into shock and grief.

Among the deceased, two students lost their lives in road accidents, while Swasthi Shetty (15) succumbed to illness on April 14. Juna (19), a college student from Mulky, passed away early on April 16 after falling ill in her hostel. Additionally, Swathi Shetty (24), a dental medical graduate residing in a PG in Pandeshwar, was found dead on the morning of April 16 after going to bed the previous night.

On April 11, SSLC student Mohammed Razik (16) tragically lost his life when a wild boar suddenly crossed his scooter's path near Peravaje Boradka on the Bellare-Savanoor Road. Engineering student Savio Mahesh (20) met with a fatal accident on the night of April 15 when his bike was struck by a car at Adyar.

These incidents, coupled with the heartbreaking drowning of four high school boys in a river near Haleangadi on February 28, have sparked concern among the public in the DK district.

Addressing the public's apprehensions, Dr Timmaiah, DHO of Dakshina Kannada, urged calm, stating, "Two girl students and a young doctor have tragically passed away in separate incidents. It has come to light that Swasthi Shetty, a high school student from Shirtadi, had been undergoing medical treatment for some days due to an autoimmune disease. This condition involves the body's own antibodies attacking a specific organ or system, and treatment may not always be effective for certain cases. Dr Swathi Shetty had informed her parents the night before of severe headaches and passed away the following morning. We will gather further information from her family to ascertain if there were any other underlying health issues. I will also investigate the circumstances of Juna's death, a student of Mulky college. There is no need for public panic."