In Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district, five people drowned in a river near Mantralayam while trying to save a little child who fell into the deep waters. Many families are grieving and have been left to wonder how many people were involved in the tragedy.
The deceased were Yuvan Chandra (5), son of Vadla Satish (35) of Hyderabad in Telangana, Raghavendra (28) of Mantralayam, Vadla Dhanu (23) from Emmiganur in Kurnool district and Sandhya (22) of Anantapur district. Vadla Satish also lost his life trying to save his son.
The victims had gathered in Mantralayam to attend a Satyanarayana Puja organised at a relative’s home. Family members and relatives travelled from different places to attend the religious ceremony, which was to begin on Sunday.
Family members went to the Tungabhadra River on Saturday evening for a swim. On the trip, five-year-old Yuvan Chandra slipped and fell into deeper waters and began drowning. Many family members rushed into the river in a panic to save the child. The water was too deep for the rescuers to get to.
A young woman named Aparna from Adoni was among them and was able to survive and return to the shore safely. Aparna immediately notified residents and the victims’ families about the tragedy.
When the incident was reported to Mantralayam police, fire and emergency services officers and experienced swimmers rushed to the scene. Rescue teams searched with country boats and continued to search until 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Dhanu was recovered after the first search at the river.
The operation was resumed on Sunday morning, with Yuvan Chandra and his father Vadla Satish’s bodies recovered. The bodies were handed over to the grieving families for post-mortem examination at a nearby government hospital.
The search for the missing people continues with the help of local fishermen and rescue personnel. Police officials are monitoring the operation and have asked visitors to be cautious when entering rivers and water bodies, especially in the monsoon season when currents can be unpredictable.
Andhra Pradesh ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and T.G. Bharath, along with Emmiganur Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhargavi, visited the accident site to assess the situation and oversee the ongoing rescue efforts.
The tragedy has turned what was supposed to be a family celebration and spiritual gathering into a grieving and mourning event. People of the region have been shocked by the incident, and the search for the other missing persons continues.
