Picnic turns tragic as four people drown

Out of 22 people including women and children, 18 members went for a swim in River Godavari and began to drown but boatmen saved the lives of 14 people from Telangana State

Eluru: Four people including two children drowned in River Godavari at Koida village in Velairpadu mandal of West Godavari district on Monday afternoon. Three bodies were fished out, while police and search parties are tracking down another woman’s body.

According to police, 22 people including women and children of Drivers Colony in Aswaraopeta mandal of Bhadadri Kothagudem district in Telangana came to Koida village in two autos for a picnic in Papikondalu. Waiting for a boat, they sat on the banks. Meanwhile, 18 members went into the river with children for a swim, but due to deep waters, all the members began drowning and cried out for help.

Boatmen Kadupu Krishna and his son Venkatesh jumped into the river and saved 14 people by barricading the place with their boat but four people met watery grave. Later, fishermen fished out three bodies. The deceased were identified as Haseena (11), Mahabubi (12), daughters of SK Nagur Meera and Shakila and Shaikh Arifa (30). The two children came to picnic with their aunt SK Ankush Bi following the school holiday due to the protests. The kids came with their aunt Ankus Bi to the picnic.

Velairpadu SI Madhu Venkata Raja reached the spot with his staff and began search for body using fishing boats. The body of Maddi Kondamma (35) is yet to be traced.