Sat Sep 20 07:23:24 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article based on that summary:

**Summary:**

A 20-year-old man died after a coracle capsized in the backwaters of the Chakra dam in Bentodi village, Karnataka, highlighting the isolation and danger faced by residents due to lack of connectivity. The village, primarily inhabited by the Adi Karnataka Scheduled Caste community, relies on coracles for transport as their road is submerged by the dam’s backwaters. The villagers are blaming the government for the death. Residents say they have been facing these challenges since the 1970s, when the Chakra dam was built. Children must use coracles to attend school, raising safety concerns. Local officials are aware of the situation, and a defunct hanging bridge may be relocated to the village.

**News Article:**

**Tragedy Highlights Isolation and Danger in Karnataka Village**

*Bentodi, Karnataka –* The death of a 20-year-old man in a coracle accident has brought renewed attention to the plight of Bentodi villagers in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka. Poornesh, a resident of Kattinahole, drowned when the fibre coracle he was traveling in capsized in the backwaters of the Chakra dam on September 13th. His body was recovered the next day.

Bentodi, a hamlet primarily inhabited by families belonging to the Adi Karnataka Scheduled Caste, has been effectively cut off from neighboring communities since the construction of the Chakra dam in the 1970s. The dam’s backwaters regularly submerge the road connecting Bentodi to the outside world, forcing residents to rely on small, unstable coracles for transportation.

“We have been living here for ages… During the rainy season, the backwater submerges the road and separates us from the neighboring villages,” said Raju, a Bentodi resident.

The lack of safe passage is particularly concerning for families with school-aged children. Six children from Bentodi must navigate the dangerous backwaters daily to attend school in Kattinahole and Sampekatte. Following Poornesh’s death, parents, fearful for their children’s safety, have temporarily housed them with relatives in Kattinahole.

“They have learnt how to propel a coracle,” said Ganapathi, a resident of Kattinahole. “However, it is scary to see children operate the coracle. For their safety, the government should build a bridge.”

Local leaders acknowledge the issue and have pledged action. D.K. Sathyanarayana Bhat, a member of the Sampekatte Gram Panchayat, said that he had submitted appeals to officers and elected representatives multiple times.

Narendra Kumar, executive officer of Hosangara taluk panchayat, said he is exploring the possibility of relocating a defunct hanging bridge from Kanike in Hosanagara taluk to Bentodi. The move is under consideration and a report will be submitted to the concerning officers.

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