Tourist washed away at Abbi falls

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A 26-year-old tourist was washed away at the Abbi waterfalls located in Hosanagara Taluk of Shivamogga on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Vinod, who was an employee at a private firm in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru.

According to sources, he was a resident of Ballari and had gone on a weekend trip along with 12 other young men and visited Abbi falls after touring the Kodachadri hills.

It is said that the youth slipped and fell into the waters and is feared drowned. After the incident, Police Inspector Ramesh from Hosanagara Police Station and officials from the fire and rescue services department arrived at the spot and launched a search operation.

Last year, another tourist had also drowned, making the authorities block the path to Abbi waterfalls and restrict access to it. However, according to sources, Vinod and his friends parked their Tempo Traveller vehicle and walked 1.5 kilometres to reach the falls.