The badly damaged raft of two missing British nationals was found amid huge rocks, near Sangama, in the Cauvery in Karnataka's Ramanagaram district on Thursday.
A mobile phone and a bag were also found near the inflatable raft. Given the huge rocks and the undercurrent in the river in the area where the raft was found, after scouring the river between Muthathi and Sangama, rescuers say there is very little chance of finding the two alive.
The Karnataka police have decided to ask the Madras Engineer Group (MEG) and Centre, Bangalore, for help trace Ian Turton Samuel Bernard, 45, and Michael David John Easton, 57. The two arrived at Muthathi for fishing and river rafting on May 19, and have gone missing since then.
“We found the torn raft and a bag that has a mobile phone in the Cauvery, near Sangama, at 11.30 a.m.,” Anupam Agarwal, Superintendent of Police Ramanagaram, told The Hindu . “The two are suspected to have been washed away. We have requested help from Army officials. They may start the search on Friday,” he said.
At least 60 personnel of the MEG and Centre will search Muthathi, Aira, the Galibore fishing camp, Shantidhama, Sangama, Mekedatu, Thattugodu, Mankari Mada and Akki Bore in Karnataka, and Thabbaguli, the Hogenakkal falls, the Cauvery water commission project area, Anchetti and some other parts in Tamil Nadu.
On Thursday, the Mandya police transferred the case to the Ramanagaram police, under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.
