Anakapalli town, Kasimkota, Newstoday: A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in the Saradana river between Veduruparthi-Tegada in Kasimkota mandal, as two young students went missing and tragically drowned. On Monday morning, around 10.30 am, a mother watched in horror as her son and younger brother lost their lives in the water. The story, narrated by Anakapalli Rural CI Ravikumar and SSI Adinarayana Reddy, recounts the distressing events. Pilli Lakshmi, accompanied by her son Anil (14) and younger brother Edida Prasad (17), had come to Palivela Ramana’s house in Veduruparthi for their summer vacation. However, tragedy struck when Lakshmi went to Saradanadi to wash her clothes, and Anil and Prasad joined others to bathe in the river. Amidst the group, the two students were tragically lost. Locals rushed to the scene upon hearing Lakshmi’s screams, and the police arrived promptly to initiate a search. With no trace of the students by evening, family members were left in anguish.
Edida Prasad (17), the only son of Suryakantham from Chandanada village in Nakkapally mandal, was studying in the tenth standard. Coming from a laborer family, the loss of their son in the river has plunged them into deep sorrow. Similarly, Anil, belonging to a poverty-stricken family in Pothireddypalem village, Elamanchili mandal, was studying in the tenth grade at Regupalem High School. Anxiously waiting for their child to return safely, Anil’s parents, Pilli Raju and Lakshmi, who work as a mason and at Brandix respectively, sent their heartfelt prayers for their son’s survival.
As the tragedy unfolded, local leaders including Sarpanchi Ittamshetty Sanyasinayudu and village elders arrived at the scene. Despite informing the NDRF officials, they failed to arrive before nightfall on Monday. The riverside was shrouded in an atmosphere of sadness as the families of the two students grappled with their immense loss.
In this time of sorrow, the community stands in solidarity with the grieving families, offering comfort and support. The search efforts continue, and hopes remain that the students may be found alive. However, the tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by water bodies and emphasizes the need for heightened caution, especially during recreational activities.