Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Aug 20: In a heartbreaking incident, six schoolchildren drowned in a rain-filled pond in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the local community.

The tragedy occurred in Chigeli village of Aspari mandal when a group of seven Class 5 students, aged around 10–11, went to bathe in a pond after school. According to police, six of them entered the water and began drowning due to its depth and strong currents. In their attempt to rescue one another, all six lost their lives. The seventh child, who stayed on the banks, rushed back to the village to raise an alarm.

Villagers immediately launched a search and recovered the bodies, but it was too late. The deaths have devastated the local community, with grieving parents left inconsolable.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities confirmed that the children had gone to school earlier that day and diverted to the pond on their way home.

Minister for Roads and Buildings B.C. Janardhan Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling it a deeply unfortunate incident. He urged parents to closely monitor their children’s activities to prevent such tragedies.

YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also extended condolences to the bereaved families and requested the government to provide financial aid. He called for stricter safety measures near water bodies and greater parental vigilance.

The tragic deaths have sparked renewed calls for awareness and supervision, particularly in rural areas during the monsoon season when water levels in ponds and tanks can rise suddenly.