One youth meets watery grave, five others rescued in Seshachalam hills in Andhra Pradesh
The Hindu
Tragic drowning at inaccessible lake leads to heroic rescue operation in remote forest, leaving one dead and five saved.
A joyous picnic took a tragic turn for a group of young friends when a visit to a highly inaccessible waterbody resulted in the drowning of one 24-year-old and distress for five others. This unfortunate incident occurred on Friday in the remote forests of the Seshachalam hills, near Railway Kodur in the Annamayya district. After an extensive rescue operation that lasted for nine hours, with police successfully rescued the five stranded youths and recovered the body of the deceased in the early hours of Saturday.
The operation was led by Circle-Inspector (Railway Kodur) K. Hemasundar Rao, who coordinated with a team of 20 members, including personnel from the Forest department.
The six youths, aged between 19 and 24, from Sriram Nagar Colony in Srikalahasti town of Tirupati district, set out on three motorcycles, navigating through forest trails and over a small hillcrest to arrive at Guntimadugu lake by Friday afternoon.
As dusk fell upon the area, tragedy struck when one of the youths, 24-year-old Sai Datta, was seen struggling in the water at the far edge of the lake. His friends managed to pull him from the depths and attempted CPR in a desperate bid to revive him, but their efforts were in vain.
In a state of panic and confusion, the group attempted to find their way back through the forest. They were prevented from doing so due to slippery rocks, and any attempts to call for help were hindered. Their mobiles had either been lost in the water or had no signal. In a final attempt to alert someone, they managed to contact a friend back in Srikalahasti, who immediately informed the police.
Superintendent of Police V. Vidyasagar Naidu organized a rescue team. “It took us two-and-a-half hours to reach the location, which is surrounded by steep hills and thick vegetaion. One by one, we managed to secure the five youths and bring them to safety, while also recovering the body from the banks of the lake,” Mr. Hemasundar Rao recounted. The team returned to Railway Kodur taking an additional four hours.
The Guntimadugu lake is infamous for its hazardous conditions, particularly due to its hidden whirlpools, and frequenting sloth bears.
Abhishek Banerjee challenges BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, pledging community health initiatives if Trinamool Congress wins.
Rising LPG shortages in Karnataka boost firewood demand, reviving an informal market as households and hotels seek alternatives.
Against the backdrop of intense poll activity, a 400-metre stretch of an arterial road in the outskirts of Chennai (technically in Madurapakkam panchayat under Tambaram assembly constituency) presents a salute to the idea of res publica, which underpins India’s system of governance, where citizens have a say, at least before a government is securely ensconced in the seat of power. A Republic Day initiative shines bright every night
Fadnavis claims zero FIR in Ajit Pawar crash is a defamation attempt by Karnataka against Maharashtra's investigation efforts.
Set to unfold as a one-day pop-up on April 5, the Easter Sadya brings together both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, offering a peek into the food traditions of the Syrian Christian (Nasrani) community. While the traditional Sadya is often associated with dishes such as sambar, avial, and rice, this version expands to include community-specific festive dishes.
BJP nominates mother of R.G. Kar victim Abhaya to contest from Panihati in West Bengal Assembly elections.
Veteran Malayalam actor-director E.A. Rajendran passes away at 71, leaving behind a rich legacy in the film industry.
Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has rolled out digital mode of water bill generation and collection in 23 gram panchayats on a pilot basis for the first time in Karnataka. This is set to be extended to the remaining 200 panchayats shortly, according to the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narwade Vinayak Karbhari.
Bengaluru police questioned a man carrying ₹6 lakh for medical expenses at Vidhana Soudha, later releasing him after verification.
BJP accuses Bengaluru's Congress government of corruption in e-Khata issuance, halting infrastructure projects due to financial mismanagement.
Misinformation in Hyderabad sparks panic buying, causing disruptions as residents react to unfounded rumors of an impending lockdown.
Bengaluru Metro extends services until 2 a.m. on March 28 for IPL match, ensuring convenient travel for spectators.
A bus truck-collision in Andhra Pradesh's Markapuram district, killing several. Catch LIVE updates here!