Daijiworld Media Network - Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, Nov 24: Six people died in two tragic drowning incidents reported on Sunday across north Andhra Pradesh.

In Parvathipuram Manyam district, three boys from Sivini village — Sharat, Govind Naidu and Pradeep — drowned while bathing in the Jhanjhavathi rubber dam. The group had gone to the dam with relatives when one boy began struggling in the water. The other two rushed to help but were also swept away, according to eyewitnesses. Police and expert swimmers immediately launched a search operation upon receiving information about the incident.

In a separate tragedy in Alluri Sitharamaraju district, a country-made boat overturned in the Raiwada reservoir near Jinapadu in Anantagiri mandal. Jeevan, a resident of Jinapadu, was found dead, while two others who were travelling with him remain missing. Authorities said the mishap happened while the group was returning to the bund after boating. Rescue teams continue their search for the missing individuals.

Agriculture minister K. Atchenaidu reviewed the situation with officials, particularly the drowning at the Jhanjhavathi dam. He instructed them to expedite search operations and ensure the installation of warning boards around the dam to prevent further incidents. The minister stressed that clear cautionary signage is essential to avert similar tragedies.

The state has witnessed multiple drowning incidents recently. Just a week earlier, on November 16, five people died in three separate accidents. In Srikakulam district, two children aged 8 and 9 drowned in a tank in Pandhigunta, and a 16-year-old student lost his life in another tank in Rushikudda. In Tirupati, two men died while swimming in an irrigation project.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution around water bodies, especially in remote or unsupervised areas.