Tragedy in Andhra Pradesh: 4 Boys Swept Away While Swimming in Flood-Swollen Swarnamukhi River

A devastating incident occurred in Vedanthapuram village near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on Friday evening when four young boys were carried away by strong currents in the Swarnamukhi river during a swimming outing.

Seven students - identified as Prakash, Chinna, Teja, Balu, Vishnu, Muniratnam, and Krishna - entered the water at approximately 4 pm for what was intended to be a recreational swim.

The river had become dangerously swollen due to recent heavy rainfall, creating powerful currents that quickly overwhelmed the young swimmers.

Four boys - Prakash, Chinna, Teja, and Balu - were swept away by the surging waters. Fortunately, Vishnu, Muniratnam, and Krishna managed to escape the perilous situation with assistance from nearby locals.

After extensive search operations, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of two victims, while efforts continue to locate the remaining two missing boys.

Tirupati Rural police responded immediately upon receiving reports of the incident.

A specialized team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was deployed to conduct comprehensive search operations in the area.

Tirupati district police chief L Subbarayudu personally visited the location late evening and confirmed that drones were being utilized to aid in the intensive aerial search efforts.

State Home Minister Anitha expressed her sorrow, stating: "The news that four children went missing in the Swarnamukhi River near Vedanthapuram in Tirupati Rural Mandal has caused widespread shock. With the help of drones, the bodies of two children have been recovered, while the search continues for the other two. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased."

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also conveyed his distress regarding the tragic accident.

"The accident that occurred in the Swarnamukhi River near Vedanthapuram in Tirupati district is deeply distressing," he remarked, adding that efforts are ongoing to locate the missing individuals.

Both Superintendent of Police Subbarayudu and the state home minister have issued urgent appeals to the public, emphasizing the importance of exercising extreme caution during the current rainy season.