Missing Padma Shri scientist Subbanna Ayyappan found dead in Cauvery River
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Renowned agricultural and fisheries scientist Subbanna Ayyappan was found dead in the Cauvery River near Srirangapatna in Karnataka, police confirmed on Saturday.
He was a Padma Shri awardee and former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The 70-year-old scientist’s body was discovered floating in the river by locals, who alerted authorities. Police later recovered the body and confirmed his identity.
Ayyappan had been reported missing since May 7, after his family filed a complaint at the Vidyaranyapuram Police Station in Mysuru.
According to police, his two-wheeler was found abandoned on the riverbank, raising suspicions that he may have jumped into the water. However, officials have said that only a full investigation will reveal the exact cause of death.
A resident of Mysuru’s Vishweshwara Nagar Industrial Area, Ayyappan was known to frequently visit a Saibaba ashram located along the banks of the Cauvery for meditation.
Dr. Ayyappan was a pioneering figure in the fields of aquaculture and agricultural science, becoming the first non-crop scientist to lead ICAR. He played a crucial role in shaping India's Blue Revolution, a movement that significantly advanced the country's fisheries sector.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters. His sudden death has shocked the scientific community and sparked tributes from across the country.