Recollecting horrific tragedy: Plan to collect Beas water keeps him alive

Hyderabad: The urge of Srujan Panuganti, 19, to collect the holy waters of the Beas saved his life. Srujan was in the middle of the river, clicking photographs, minutes before the Larji Dam gates were opened.

“I felt that I should collect the water and take it home. Telling my friends that I would be back in a while, I went up to the road where our bus was parked, to get a bottle. On my way, a villager told me that the water from Larji was released and the water level was increasing dangerously. I ran to the river and alerted my faculty members and friends,” said Srujan.

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The faculty members and students on the banks started calling out to the others to return.

“As the water rose and the current got stronger, we started pulling out our friends. One of my classmates, Srinidhi, was near us and we were about to pull her, but she went to get her slippers from a rock behind her. She was washed away,” said Srujan.

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The students and faculty members at the bank cried for help and villagers rushed with ropes. “They were trying to help by throwing ropes at those who were drowning. However, the water rose faster and made rescue difficult,” he said.

(Read: Drowned students' bodies brought home, families still in shock)

He added that the police officers, when they reached at the spot, did not get into the water to try and rescue the victims. “I strongly believe that if there was a quick move from local authorities to shut the dam and start a rescue attempt, many of my friends would have been alive today,” said Srujan, who lives in Mehdipatnam.

Watch: Himachal Pradesh tragedy