Proposal sent to NHAI to install wire-mesh fence on Ullal bridge

Mangaluru: Netravati river is the lifeline for Dakshina Kannada district and passes beneath Ullal and Panemangaluru bridges, but presently, it has become a destination to commit suicide, which in-turn has become headache for the district administration and the police.

In the last couple of months, more than 6 people have attempted suicide by jumping off into the river from either bridges and lost their lives. The situation took a serious angle on the night of Sep 28, when three persons belonging from the same family committed mass suicide by jumping from the bridge into the river. The terrifying fact is that people from outer districts are also coming here to commit suicide. Hence, it is high time the district administration takes necessary steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Such cases have become an headache for the district administration. Besides, the district administration, police and citizens have to put in a lot of effort to either protect those who have plunged into the river or recover the corpses.

Police patrol

Considering the suicide attempts from Ullal bridge seriously, the cops have taken some precautionary measures. Police patrolling has been started from either ends of the bridge. Besides, Mangaluru Police Commissionerate has sent a proposal to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), suggesting the installing of wire-mesh fencing along the length of the bridge.

Rise after Siddhartha case

On July 29^th, Café Coffee Day founder Siddhartha committed suicide by jumping into Netravati river from Ullal bridge and since then, there is a rise in victims coming from outer districts and committing suicide. Along with the Siddhartha case, three persons including a lady have committed suicide from here in a span of three months. Two others who were attempting suicide were rescued. One person, who has parked his vehicle near the bridge and gone missing has not yet been found.

Recently, three persons from the same family jumped to their deaths from Panemangaluru bridge. All these repeated incidents, is strengthening the fact that both the bridges have become suicide spots.

Wire-mesh fencing proposal

Since there is a four-lane national highway between Mangaluru and Talapady, two bridges have been built across the Netravati river near Jeppinamogaru. The bridges are a total of 840 meters long. Wire-mesh fencing needs to be installed on either sides of the both the bridges. In its proposal to NHAI, the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate has asked for the installation of 10 feet tall, iron wire-mesh fence on either side of both the bridges at Ullal.

Wire-mesh fencing proposal submitted to technical experts: NHAI

The proposal to install the wire-mesh fencing was not included in the blueprint for the creation of the bridge. Hence, the expenses regarding its installation will be considered as additional expense. In this backdrop, consultant engineer (technical expert) has been asked to create an estimate for the installation of the wire-mesh and submit a report regarding the possibilities concerning the installation of the safety fence on either side of the bridge to the entire length of the bridge. NHAI officials will take further action based on the report, inform sources from NHAI office.

Enough letter business has been conducted

Post the Siddhartha incident, letter has been written to NHAI officials concerning the installation of fence on Ullal bridge. In the backdrop of repeated suicides occurring near the bridge, enough letter business have been held concerning the installation of fence at the bridges – Dr|P S Harsha, Police Commissioner

Suicide Victims and attempts

July 29^th: Café Coffee Day founder Siddhartha goes mysteriously missing near Ullal bridge and his corpse is finally found on July 31^st around 4.5 km away from the bridge near an ice plant at Hoige Bazaar.

Aug 4^th: Girish (22), a tender coconut merchant from Urwa store who originally is from Kaduru in Chikkamagaluru attempted suicide by jumping from Ullal bridge, but soon relented his action after remembering his wife and child and was rescued by the locals as he was attempting to survive. ‘

Aug 9^th: Gajanishwari K (24), a resident of Badagannuru Kodiyadka in Puttur, who was working at a plywood company in the city committed suicide by jumping from the bridge and her corpse was located two days later at Someshwar Ucchila.

Aug 17^th: Sadashiva (28), a reisendt o Baltila in Kadaba taluk, who was working as a contractor supplying drinking water to the trains and railway office at Mangaluru Junction railway station committed suicide by jumping off the bridge and his corpse was found on Aug 25^th, 12 km away from NMPT in the sea.

Aug 30^th: Padmaraj (18), originally from Bengaluru and working as a photographer at Naguri here attempted suicide by jumping from the bridge, but was rescued by the fishermen in the nick of time.

Sep 11^th: Sadashiva Rao (64), who was a retired bank employee and a resident of Bejai new road 6^th cross went mysteriously missing from Ullal bridge after parking his scooter near the bridge and hays yet not been located.

Sep 28^th: Kavita Mandanna (55), her son Kaushik Mandanna (30) and daughter Kalpita Mandanna (20), all from Kodagu belonging to the same family committed mass suicide by jumping into Netravati river from Panemangaluru bridge after first throwing their domesticated dog into the river.