Godavari River Tragedy: Last Body Recovered in Konaseema

Kakinada: The body of Sabbathi Kranthi Kiran,19, of Kakinada was found at a shore near YSR Bridge in Pasuvallanka village of Mummidivaram mandal in Konaseema district on Wednesday.

Eight teenagers drowned in the Vridha Gowthami-Godavari River in Kaminilanka village in Mummidivaram mandal on Monday, and seven bodies were recovered on Tuesday. The pastor, Sabbathi Ramesh, lost his two sons – Sabbathi Kranthi Kiran and Pal Abhishek, in the incident. Pal Abhishek's dead body was found on Tuesday and was also autopsied. Krianthi Kiran's body was found on Wednesday, and after performing a postmortem, the police handed over the body to his father. Mummidivaram police registered a case.

Several departments, like revenue, police, SDRF, fire, village secretariat personnel, swimmers and others, participated in the search operations with coordinated efforts for 48 hours. Konaseema superintendent of police B. B. Krishna Rao closely monitored the search operations. Additional SP A.V.R.P.B. Prasad, Amalapuram DSP T.S.R.K. Prasad and others themselves participated in search operations by boat. Meanwhile, it is advised that the grama panchayat officials and sarpanches and their members across the coastal districts restrain the people who want to step into the river, as the village people know about the river’s position.

Meanwhile, labour minister Vasamsetty Subhash consoled Pulapaka Bindu Madhavi, who lost his brother Rohit, who drowned in the river. Bindu Madhavi and Rohit lost their father and mother previously. They were raised by their maternal uncle and aunt, Nakka Govinda Rajulu and Sujatha. The minister assured Bindu Madhavi that he would look after her future education and provide other facilities to her. Bindu Madhavi is studying Intermediate second year in government junior college at Mandapeta. Bindu Madhavi said that his brother gave up his education midway and worked in a rice mill to educate her. But meanwhile, the tragedy took place.