Three Class 9 students drowned after being swept into deeper waters by strong waves at Rushikonda beach in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday. The bodies of all three students were later recovered, police said.
The deceased were identified as Pilla Prashanth, Sattaruvu Suryaprakash and Sabbavarapu Ritesh, all around 14 years old and residents of Madhurawada. Prashanth’s body was recovered on Friday evening, while the bodies of Suryaprakash and Ritesh were found on the beach early Saturday morning.
The incident took place near IT Park Junction on the Bheemili beach road, close to Rushikonda. The students had reportedly gone to the beach with three other friends during the school holiday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
According to police, the six boys, all Class 9 students at a private school in Madhurawada, reached the beach at around 3pm. Four of them entered the sea, while two stayed on the shore.
The four boys were reportedly standing in knee-deep water when a large wave suddenly struck them. One of the students, Sattaruvu Hemanth, managed to return safely to the shore. However, Prashanth, Suryaprakash and Ritesh were pulled into deeper waters by the strong current.
After receiving information about the incident, a major search operation was launched. Coast Guard personnel, including a helicopter team, Marine Police, local police, beach lifeguards and fishermen joined the rescue efforts.
Despite an extensive search, the whereabouts of Suryaprakash and Ritesh remained unknown through Friday night. Their bodies were eventually found after being washed ashore early Saturday.
Visakhapatnam City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi reached the location after being informed about the incident and personally monitored the search and rescue operation.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by strong currents and sudden waves at beaches. Even shallow-looking water can become dangerous when waves and currents change suddenly, particularly for young swimmers who may not be able to judge the conditions accurately.
Police and rescue teams continued their efforts until all three missing students were located. The incident has left the families and local community grieving over the loss of three young lives.
Reader Comments 0