Bantwal, Jan 05, 2019: A young Ayyappa Vrithadhari who had stepped into the Netravathi river for a bath, drowned on January 5, Saturday.
The deceased has been identified as Haraprasad (23), son of Raju of Kallige village. He was scheduled to leave for Sabarimala along with Girish Guruswamy and some of his friends on Sunday.
The tragedy struck when he along with five of his Ayyappa Vrithadhari friends were having bath as usual near the Thumbay vented dam.
The five used to camp at the Lakshmi Vishnumurthi Temple at Devandabettu in Kallige village.