Owner, manager arrested after three women drown in Mangaluru resort pool

After three women drowned in a resort's swimming pool in Karnataka's Mangaluru, police arrested the resort owner and manager. The resort was sealed and the town municipal corporation suspended the owner's licence.

In Short

• Owner, manager arrested over women drowning in swimming pool
• Police confirmed resort lacked lifeguards and safety boards
• Town municipal body sealed resort, suspended owner’s licence

The owner and manager of Vazco Resort near Ullal Beach in Karnataka were arrested on Monday following the drowning of three women in the resort’s swimming pool.

According to Mangaluru Police, there was no lifeguard on duty at the time, and the absence of safety measures like cautionary boards raised serious concerns.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal stated that the resort owner Manohar and its manager Bharath have been booked under Section 106 of the Indian Penal Code for causing death by negligence.

The three victims from Mysuru, 21-year-old Nishita MD, 20-year-old Parvati S and 21-year-old Keerthana N, were on a beach trip and staying at the resort. On Sunday, Nishita reportedly entered the pool despite being unable to swim. When she showed signs of distress, Parvati jumped in to save her but struggled as well. Keerthana followed suit in an attempt to rescue her friends, but all three tragically drowned.

The victims’ families lodged complaints alleging negligence, highlighting the lack of lifeguards and safety signage at the pool. Acting on these complaints, authorities sealed the resort, and Someshwara Town Municipal Council suspended the owner's trade licence. Additionally, the Tourism Department revoked the resort’s tourism registration certificate.