Renowned agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee Dr Subbanna Ayyappan (70), who had been missing, was found dead, as per police officials, who said that his body was found in the Cauvery river near Sai Ashram in Srirangapatna in Karnataka.
Ayyappan lived with his wife in the Vishweshwara Nagar industrial area of Mysuru and had been missing from home since May 7. His wife and two daughters survive him. The Srirangapatna police have registered a case and started an investigation into the reason for the death.
The police received information about the sighting of an unidentified body in the river on Saturday evening. When they reached the spot and retrieved the body from the river, the scientist’s identity was discovered. Ayyappan’s scooter was found on the riverbank. After 3 days, when he didn’t return, the family lodged a complaint at the Vidyaranapuram police station in Mysore.
Preliminary enquiry said that he might have jumped into the river, yet police said a proper investigation can only reveal the cause of the death. Further investigation is underway. Ayyappan completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fisheries and held several top positions nationally. Instrumental in promoting India’s Blue Revolution, the Padma Shri awardee helped boost the country’s agriculture, after which his contributions were recognised by the government in 2022.
