Two youths drown at Kakinada's Suryaraopet beach, bodies recovered Monday
Synopsis
Two young men from Kakinada drowned at Suryaraopet beach after strong waves swept them away during a Sunday outing — their bodies recovered only after an overnight search. The incident is the latest in a recurring pattern of beach drownings along Andhra Pradesh's 1,000-km coastline, prompting Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to personally intervene and direct a multi-agency rescue effort.
Key Takeaways
Padala Yuva Kishore ( 20 ) and Anusuri Veerababu ( 21 ) drowned at Suryaraopet beach , Kakinada, on Sunday ; bodies recovered Monday .
Two other youths from the same group — A.
Sri Ganesh Chanti and K.A.V.
Sandeep Kumar — were rescued by bystanders.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan called the Kakinada SP and directed deployment of coast guard, marine police, and local fishermen for the search.
Bodies shifted to Government General Hospital, Kakinada for post-mortem; police have registered a case.
A similar drowning incident occurred at Old Gangavaram Beach, Visakhapatnam on 2 August , highlighting a pattern across Andhra's 1,000-km coastline.
The bodies of two young men who drowned at Suryaraopet beach in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, were recovered on Monday, 25 August 2025, following an overnight search operation. The deceased were identified as Padala Yuva Kishore, aged 20, and Anusuri Veerababu, aged 21, both residents of Kakinada.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
A group of four youths from Kakinada had visited Suryaraopet beach on Sunday and entered the water. Strong waves overwhelmed the group, and all four began to struggle. Bystanders managed to pull out A. Sri Ganesh Chanti (21) and K.A.V. Sandeep Kumar (19) from the sea. Kishore and Veerababu, however, went missing, prompting authorities to launch a search operation that continued through the night.
Rescue teams resumed the search on Monday morning and eventually traced both bodies. Police subsequently shifted the remains to Government General Hospital, Kakinada, for post-mortem examination, and registered a case to begin a formal investigation.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Intervenes
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan personally intervened after learning of the incident, calling the Kakinada Superintendent of Police to inquire about the search efforts. The SP reportedly informed him that the youths had drowned due to strong waves. Kalyan expressed concern over the tragedy and directed authorities to intensify the search, advising them to deploy expert swimmers, specialised rescue teams, marine police, the coast guard, and local fishermen's groups.
Kalyan also instructed local MLA Panthangi Nana to stay in close contact with the families of the missing youths and provide regular updates.
A Recurring Crisis Along Andhra's Coastline
Andhra Pradesh has a coastline stretching nearly 1,000 km, and drowning incidents at its beaches have been a persistent concern. Despite repeated warnings and precautionary measures by authorities, visitors continue to enter the water and fall victim to unpredictable, powerful waves.
This is not an isolated incident. On 2 August, two youths went missing after being swept away by strong waves at Old Gangavaram Beach in Visakhapatnam — a tragedy that unfolded during a Friendship Day outing. The pattern points to a systemic gap between official warnings and public compliance at the state's beaches.
What Happens Next
Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances of the drowning. Post-mortem examinations are underway at Government General Hospital, Kakinada. Authorities are yet to announce any new beach safety measures in the wake of the latest fatalities.
Point of View
Recurring pattern along Andhra Pradesh's coastline that authorities have so far failed to arrest. Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's intervention, while visible, underscores a reactive rather than preventive approach: the calls to the SP and the MLA came after two young men were already missing. Andhra Pradesh has nearly 1,000 km of coastline and no publicly announced permanent beach safety infrastructure to show for it. The real question is not whether warnings are being issued, but why those warnings consistently fail to prevent fatalities — and whether the state government will move beyond crisis management to structural intervention.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two youths who drowned at Kakinada beach?
The deceased were Padala Yuva Kishore , aged 20, and Anusuri Veerababu , aged 21, both residents of Kakinada. They drowned at Suryaraopet beach on Sunday and their bodies were recovered on Monday after an overnight search operation.
What happened to the other two youths in the group?
Two other youths from the same group of four — A. Sri Ganesh Chanti (21) and K.A.V. Sandeep Kumar (19) — were rescued from the sea by bystanders at the beach before the search operation was launched.
What action did Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan take?
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan called the Kakinada Superintendent of Police to inquire about the incident and directed authorities to intensify the search. He advised deploying expert swimmers, marine police, the coast guard, and local fishermen, and instructed local MLA Panthangi Nana to remain in contact with the affected families.
Where have the bodies been taken and what is the next step?
The bodies of both youths were shifted to Government General Hospital, Kakinada, for post-mortem examination. Police have registered a case and initiated a formal investigation into the drowning.
Is beach drowning a common problem in Andhra Pradesh?
Yes. Andhra Pradesh has a coastline of nearly 1,000 km, and drowning incidents have been recurring despite official warnings. A similar incident occurred on 2 August at Old Gangavaram Beach in Visakhapatnam, where two youths went missing during a Friendship Day outing.
