4 drown in Krishna River boat capsize in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Four persons, including three children, drowned after a boat capsized in the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district on Sunday, 14 June. The tragedy unfolded at Konur in the Acchampet mandal when a family of 10 was returning home from a local function.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to police, all 10 members of the same family had travelled by boat to attend a family function at Konur. On the return journey, the boat overturned, throwing everyone into the river. Six of them were rescued by villagers who responded swiftly, but four went missing and were later found dead after a joint search operation by police and locals.
The deceased have been identified as Gandham Sandhya (9), Gandham Saini (10), Batthula Karthik (12), and Konatha Chaitanya (28). Three of the four victims were children under the age of 13.
Road Accident in Telangana Kills Three
In a separate incident on the same day, three people were killed in a road accident in Siddipet district of Telangana. According to police, a speeding car lost control while attempting to avoid an elderly woman crossing the road in Duddeda village, Kondapak mandal. The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a roadside house.
The three killed on the spot were identified as Radhavva, the elderly woman who had been crossing the road, Lakshmi, and a young girl named Sahasra, who were seated on the veranda of the house that was struck. The driver and other occupants of the car fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the car's owner.
APSRTC Bus Crash Near Bengaluru Injures 20
In a third road incident, 20 passengers from Andhra Pradesh were injured when an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus rammed into a stationary truck near Bengaluru in Karnataka. The bus, carrying 40 passengers, was en route to Bengaluru from Pamuru in the Markapuram district of Andhra Pradesh. According to reports, 10 of the injured were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Pattern of Concern
The Krishna River boat tragedy highlights the recurring risk of river crossings in rural Andhra Pradesh, where informal and overloaded boat services remain common during festive and social travel. This comes amid broader concerns about waterway safety in the state, particularly during the monsoon season when river currents intensify. Authorities are expected to review boat safety protocols in the Palnadu district following the incident.