A very sad event took place in the Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh this weekend. Five young students lost their lives after they went for a swim in the Godavari River. The accident happened near a place called Kukunoor on Friday, and the final bodies were found by rescue teams on Saturday morning. This tragedy has left the local community and the families of the young men in deep shock and pain.

What Happened?

On Friday, March 20, 2026, a group of seven students traveled to the banks of the Godavari River in Kukunoor. They wanted to enjoy a bath in the river waters. However, the situation turned into a nightmare when five of the students were pulled away by the strong currents of the water. While they were struggling in the river, two of their friends managed to escape the dangerous water and reach the shore safely. These two survivors, named C.H. Deepak and G. Harshavardhan, quickly ran to tell the local people and the police about what had happened.

As soon as the news reached the authorities, a large search and rescue operation began. The Kukunoor police, along with specialized teams, arrived at the river bank. On Friday, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) worked together to search the deep waters. After several hours of hard work on Friday afternoon, they were able to find and retrieve three bodies from the river. However, the search had to continue because two students were still missing as the sun went down.

On Saturday, March 21, the search teams returned to the river. The Eluru District Response Force (EDRF) joined the SDRF in the water. After more hours of searching, they finally found the bodies of the last two missing youth. These two were identified as G. Tejagna and P. Satish Kumar. The police confirmed that Tejagna was from Madanapalli and Satish Kumar was from Vuyyuru. The news of their recovery brought a sad end to the two-day rescue mission that was monitored closely by senior police officials.

Key Highlights

Seven students went to the Godavari River for a bath on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Five of the students unfortunately drowned when they were caught in the river currents.
Two students, C.H. Deepak and G. Harshavardhan, survived and alerted the police.
Rescue teams found three bodies on Friday and the final two bodies on Saturday morning.
The deceased students were from different towns, including Madanapalli, Vuyyuru, and Vizianagaram.
Special teams like the NDRF, SDRF, and EDRF were involved in the rescue operation.
The bodies have been moved to the Bhadrachalam Government Hospital for official checks.

Why Does This Matter?

This news is very important because it serves as a serious warning about water safety. Many people love to visit rivers like the Godavari for fun and swimming, but these waters can be very dangerous. Even if the water looks calm on the surface, there are often strong currents underneath that can pull even good swimmers away. For common people and families, this story is a reminder to always check if a swimming spot is safe and to never go into deep water without proper safety gear or expert supervision.

It also matters because it shows how quickly a happy trip can turn into a tragedy. These students were young and had their whole lives ahead of them. When young people die in such accidents, it affects the future of their families and their communities. This story highlights the need for better warning signs and perhaps more safety guards at popular spots along the river to prevent such accidents from happening again in the future.

What Are People Saying?

The Eluru district Superintendent of Police, K. Pratap Shiv Kishore, confirmed the details of the recovery on Saturday. He explained that the teams worked very hard to ensure all the missing students were found so their families could have some closure. The Polavaram Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), M. Venkateswara Rao, was also on the scene to monitor the entire operation. He praised the two surviving students for their quick action in alerting the locals and the police, which allowed the rescue teams to start their work as fast as possible.

Local residents in Kukunoor expressed their sadness over the incident. Many said that the river can be unpredictable during certain times of the year. They hope that the local government will put up more clear signs to tell visitors where it is dangerous to swim. The families of the students are currently in mourning, and many people from their hometowns have shared messages of support and grief on social media.

What Happens Next?

Now that all the bodies have been retrieved, the Kukunoor police have officially registered a case regarding the accident. The bodies of the five students have been sent to the Bhadrachalam Government Hospital. At the hospital, doctors will perform a postmortem, which is a standard medical exam to confirm the cause of death. After these legal steps are finished, the bodies will be handed over to the grieving families so they can perform the last rites in their respective hometowns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Where did the drowning happen? A: The accident took place in the Godavari River near Kukunoor in the Eluru district.
Q: How many students survived the accident? A: Two students, C.H. Deepak and G. Harshavardhan, managed to escape the water safely.
Q: Who conducted the search operation? A: The NDRF, SDRF, and the Eluru District Response Force (EDRF) all worked together with the local police.
Q: When did the bodies get found? A: Three bodies were found on Friday, March 20, and the last two were found on Saturday, March 21.

Conclusion

The loss of five young lives in the Godavari River is a heartbreaking event for the state. While the rescue teams did a professional job in finding the students, the tragedy remains a painful lesson about the dangers of open water. As the families prepare to say their final goodbyes, this story stands as a call for more safety awareness for everyone who visits the beautiful but powerful rivers of India. We must all be careful and respect the power of nature to avoid such sad days in the future.