Bantwal: Missing youth’s body found in Netravati river after four-day search

Bantwal: Missing youth’s body found in Netravati river after four-day search

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, August 1, 2025: The body of Hemanth Acharya (21), a resident of Kadeshivalaya in Bantwal taluk who had been missing for four days, was recovered from the Netravati River on Thursday evening.

The body was found floating in the middle of the river at Bajal Mugeru, under the jurisdiction of the Kankanady police station.

Hemanth had been reported missing from his home on July 27, and a missing person’s case was registered at the Bantwal Rural Police Station the following day. On July 29, his two-wheeler and mobile phone were discovered abandoned near the Jakribettu dam, within the limits of the Bantwal Town Police Station.

Subsequently, a search operation was launched involving local divers, fire and emergency personnel, and officers from both Bantwal rural and town police stations. Despite extensive efforts, no clues were found on the first day.

The search resumed on July 30, with teams combing the stretch between Jakribettu dam and Thumbay dam, but the efforts proved futile. On July 31, under the coordination of Kadeshivalaya gram panchayat member Sampath Suvarna, additional reinforcements were deployed, including teams led by Eshwar Malpe, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local swimmer Nisar. Even with intensified efforts, the search initially yielded no results.

Later that afternoon, drone-assisted search operations were carried out downstream from the Thumbay dam by three teams. By evening, the drone spotted a body floating in the river. The search team successfully retrieved Hemanth’s body from the water.