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.
At PV Cherian Crescent Road, which derives its quietude in no small measure from the trees lining it, the axe struck twice last week, the first time on December 7, reducing one massive tree to a stump. According to a resident who wants to stay anonymous, when the workers were questioned about it, pat came the reply that the Corporation had ordered the hand that wielded the axe. With that explanation, residents who were disturbed by the cutting of the tree assumed there should be a justification for the act and let the matter rest. On December 12, the axe struck again, the Avenue’s arboreal wealth down by one more tree.
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