Two Telugu Men Drown in Boating Accident on Colorado River
Authorities confirmed that alcohol or drugs were not involved
Hyderabad: Two Telugu-origin men, both aged 32, drowned in a boating accident on August 3 near Topock Gorge, along the Colorado River in Arizona.
The victims, identified as Anoop Gankidi from Tempe, Arizona, and old Venkata Mukkaala from Milpitas, California, were on a rented pontoon boat with three others. Three of the five, including Anoop and Venkat, entered the water to cool off.
According to the Mohave county sheriff’s office, the three men began to struggle in the water. One of them was able to return to shallow ground, but Anoop and Venkat went underwater and did not resurface.
The San Bernardino county sheriff’s department was first to arrive on scene, and sent a diver into the water. Both victims were pulled from about 12 feet deep after being underwater for nearly 20 minutes. Life-saving efforts were carried out, and they were rushed to the Colorado River Medical Centre in Needles, where they were declared dead.
Authorities confirmed that alcohol or drugs were not involved. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
