Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Jun 15: In a heartbreaking incident at Basar in Telangana’s Nirmal district, five young members of the same family lost their lives after attempting a ritual dip in the Godavari river. The group, 18 relatives originally from Rajasthan and residing in Chintal, Hyderabad, had travelled to Basar for darshan at the Saraswati temple and to perform the customary holy bath. Unaware of the river’s sudden depth and strengthened current—swollen by recent upstream rains—the five youths, all under 20, waded in too far and began to drown.

Fellow family members on the riverbank raised the alarm, prompting locals to launch rescue attempts, but the swift flow thwarted their efforts. Police, aided by expert swimmers, eventually recovered the bodies of Rakesh, Vinod, Madan, Rutik, and Bharat and transported them to the government hospital in Bhainsa. The sudden tragedy has intensified calls from residents for stricter safety provisions at the Godavari ghats, including warning signage and monitored bathing spots.

Expressing deep sorrow, Telangana’s Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar extended condolences to the bereaved families and urged everyone visiting rivers or reservoirs to exercise extreme caution. He has instructed officials to install clear warning boards at vulnerable water stretches.

Highlighting similar recent mishaps—five youths drowned in Kondapochamma reservoir in January and another six in the Medigadda Barrage last week—he stressed the urgent need for preventive measures to avert further loss of life.