Daijiworld Media Network – Tirupati

Tirupati, Oct 25: Tragedy struck Vedanthapuram village near Tirupati on Friday evening when four schoolboys were swept away by the swollen currents of the Swarnamukhi River while swimming.

According to reports, a group of seven students — Prakash, Chinna, Teja, Balu, Vishnu, Muniratnam, and Krishna — had entered the river around 4 pm for a swim. However, due to heavy rains in the region, the river was in full spate, and the strong currents quickly overpowered them.

In the horrifying incident, four boys — Prakash, Chinna, Teja, and Balu — were swept away, while the remaining three, Vishnu, Muniratnam, and Krishna, managed to reach the shore safely with the help of locals.

Following the alert, Tirupati Rural Police and a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the scene and launched a massive search and rescue operation. As of late Friday night, the bodies of two of the victims had been recovered, while search operations for the remaining two continued with the assistance of drones.

Tirupati district Superintendent of Police L Subbarayudu, who visited the spot, confirmed that an intensive aerial and ground search was underway.

State Home Minister Anitha expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “The news that four children went missing in the Swarnamukhi River near Vedanthapuram in Tirupati Rural Mandal has caused widespread shock. With the help of drones, the bodies of two children have been recovered, while the search continues for the other two. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.”

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also expressed anguish over the incident, calling it “deeply distressing,” and assured that all efforts were being made to trace the missing boys.

Both SP Subbarayudu and Home Minister Anitha urged the public to remain extremely cautious while venturing near rivers and water bodies during the ongoing rainy season.