Beware of dangerous stingrays at beaches of Udupi, Mangaluru

coastaldigest.com news network
September 13, 2018

Udupi/Mangaluru, Sept 13: Beachgoers in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada must exercise restraint and watch where they step when wading in sea water at least for next couple of weeks as the dangerous stingrays are back. The chances are that visitors might get stung by these cartilaginous fishes that swim close to the shore.

In the last few days, nearly a dozen people have suffered injuries after being stung by the stingrays at Malpe beach in Udupi district. In September, 2014 around 60 tourists were reportedly stung by stingrays at the same beach.

According to Sudesh Shetty, leaseholder, Malpe beach, all necessary precautionary measures have already been taken. Lifeguards in the beach have kept the vaccines ready to counter the effect of the sting. A board also has been installed warning people against stepping into the sea.

Even though no such incidents have been report from other beaches in the region so far, experts have urged the tourists and locals to be cautious while venturing into the sea across coastal Karnataka. Experts say that semi-grown stingrays make their way into craters developed on the shores due to the absence of rip currents.

Yathish Baikampady, CEO, Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project, said that normally during this season lifeguards will not let tourists venture into the water as they are aware of the situation.

Attacks if provoked

In fact stingrays are not usually aggressive and attack humans only when provoked, such as if a ray is accidentally stepped on. To avoid stepping on a stingray in shallow water, the water should be waded through with a shuffle. Alternatively, before wading, small stones can be thrown into the water to scare stingrays away.

Contact with the stinger causes local trauma (from the cut itself), pain, swelling, muscle cramps from the venom, and later may result in infection from bacteria or fungi. The injury is very painful, but seldom life-threatening unless the stinger pierces a vital area. The barb usually breaks off in the wound, and surgery may be required to remove the fragments.

It could be recalled here that Australian zookeeper and television personality Steve Irwin was also a victim of stingray. He lost his life on September 4, 2006, within minutes after being pierced in the heart by a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary.

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News Network
January 1,2020

Kalaburagi, Jan 1: Fighting penury and partial blindness in one eye, a 39-year-old part-time Kannada lecturer from Kalaburagi district is set to become a commercial tax officer after cracking the Karnataka Administrative Services.

Ambadas Kamble, from Kotana Hipparaga village in Aland taluk, had to take a three-year gap during his school and college years - one-year break after completing Class VII and two years to clear subjects after he failed in II PU examinations. During those three years, he joined his brothers in masonry work to supplement the family's income.

Sweeping aside all hurdles with grit and determination, Ambadas studied Kannada literature for both undergraduate and postgraduate to land the post of a part-time lecturer in a Kalaburagi college. His father died when he was a child, and mother Chandamma supported her family of six - besides, Ambadas, she has two sons and two daughters - by working in houses in the neighbourhood.

Ambadas said he would like to dedicate his success to his mother, who died in the year 2012. "My mother encouraged me to chase my dream - financial difficulties notwithstanding - and allowed me to spend time in the library when my siblings were busy doing menial jobs to fund my education. I'm grateful to my brothers too," he said.

His two brothers are working as masons in Mumbai, having quit studies midway and deciding to support Ambadas - the first in the family to complete graduation. He did high school at Tadkal village in Aland taluk, and college in Kalaburagi.

The lecturer, who's 40% blind in the right eye, cracked the KAS examinations in his third attempt and stood 706th in the state. He has been selected for first-grade officer's post. Alongside, he's doing PhD in Kannada literature.

When his efforts finally paid off, Ambadas landed four job offers: Hostel warden at Morarji Desai hostel, at an SC/ST hostel, post of a lecturer and the tax officer's post. He picked the fourth to serve the state in right earnest.

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News Network
July 26,2020

Bellary,  Jul 26: A 100-year-old woman resident of Huvina Hadagali town in Bellary district, Karnataka, recovered from COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus earlier this month.

"Doctors treated me well. Along with regular food, I was eating an apple a day. The doctors are giving me tablets and injection, and I am healthy now. COVID-19 is like a common cold," said Hallamma while speaking to news agency.

The woman's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson had also tested positive for the virus, and the family was treated at their home.

According to health department officials, her son works at a bank and had tested positive on July 3, after which Hallamma tested positive on July 16; the 100-year-old reported negative for the virus on July 22.

Meanwhile, the covid-19 death toll in the country rose to 32,063 with 705 fatalities being recorded in a day on Sunday. The number of tests for detection of covid-19 has crossed the 16-million mark in the country.

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News Network
March 14,2020

Udupi, Mar 14: Amidst growing Coronavirus scare, a youth with suspected Coronavirus symptoms was admitted to Udupi District Hospital here, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Sudhir Chandrachud said.

According to him, A 37-year-old youth, a native of Shirwa, who works in a Japanese ship and was onboard a Japanese vessel that was recently blocked due to the coronavirus. However, he was left out on its way to Dubai, where he was diagnosed with coronavirus infection and he returned to his native.

However, he did not show any of the primary symptoms of coronavirus, such as cough, cold, fever, but he was suffering from diarrhea and abdominal pain with slight respiratory problems following which he has been admitted to an isolated ward in the district hospital here on Friday evening.

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