Puttur: Yet another case showing what kind of hazards children in remote villages face while going to school and returning home has been reported from the taluk.
It also highlights the stark lack of facilities and infrastructure in rural areas in spite of 68 years of Independence.
Anisha (13), daughter of Abdul Razaq of Allangaru Nirala in 34 Nekkilady village in the taluk, who was returning home from school on Monday, accidentally slipped and was washed away in a stream while crossing it.
Her brother Mohammed Mustafa was lucky in saving himself by holding on to a branch of a bush at the side of the river.
Her house is located a kilometre away from the Karvelu school where she studied. She was walking towards home with her brother and friends, Kiran, Juneira and Jamila. The stream is located at about 100 metres away from her home in Subhash Nagar of Arabbi.
While the other children had already crossed the stream, Anisha slipped and drowned. In panic and fear, others ran home and informed their parents. Her younger brother, who was holding on to a bush, was saved in time.
Residents and diving experts began a search for her in the water. There was no success until late in the night. The search will continue on Tuesday.
Prospects of heavy rain are a cause for worry for them. A boat is being kept at the spot for emergencies. But there was no one to row it when the mishap occurred.
Her parents had moved from another place to a rented house in Arabbi to take up employment. Anisha had been admitted to Std VII in the Karvelu HP School earlier this year.
It was a routine for her and friends to walk to school and back together. All her friends are in a state of shock and grief.