Deccan News Service | Nirmal | June 15

A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday at Basara, the revered shrine town in Nirmal district, as five members of a family drowned while bathing in the Godavari River.

The victims, who had travelled from Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad to visit the famous Gnana Saraswati temple, reportedly ventured too far into the river without realizing the sudden increase in water flow. Local witnesses said the family was swept away by a strong current while bathing after the darshan.

Alerted by bystanders, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police launched an immediate rescue operation. So far, four bodies have been recovered, while the search is ongoing for the fifth person.

The police confirmed that all five belonged to the same family and the incident occurred while they were returning after offering prayers at the temple. The tragedy has plunged the family into deep sorrow and sent shockwaves through the local community.

A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway. Police officials have also appealed to devotees to exercise caution while entering the river, especially during the monsoon season when water levels can rise unpredictably.

More details are awaited.

update :

A devastating tragedy struck the temple town of Basara in Nirmal district on Sunday, as five youths from the same family drowned while taking a holy dip in the Godavari River.

The deceased have been identified as Rakesh, Vinod, Madan, Rutik, and Bharat, all residents of Chintal in Hyderabad. The five were part of an 18-member family group that had come to Basara to offer prayers at the Gnana Saraswati temple and perform a sacred bath in the river.

According to eyewitnesses, the youths were caught in a sudden surge of water flow and dragged into the deeper part of the river while bathing. Despite warnings from locals nearby, they had reportedly ventured too far into the river. As panic spread, locals quickly alerted the police, who began a search and rescue operation with the assistance of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The bodies were later retrieved from the river and shifted to the Bhainsa Government Hospital for postmortem. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as family members broke down in grief outside the hospital.

The incident has cast a shadow of sorrow over both the visiting families and the local community. Police have registered a case and an investigation is underway. Authorities have urged devotees to exercise caution while entering the Godavari, especially with fluctuating water levels during the monsoon season.

More details are awaited as officials continue their inquiry into the tragedy.

==================================================================

Basara Tragedy: Collector Vows Stricter Safety Measures
District Collector Abhilasha Abhinav expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of five pilgrims from Hyderabad, who drowned in the Godavari River while bathing during their visit to Basara temple on Sunday.

In a statement released after the incident, the Collector described the deaths as unfortunate and heartbreaking. She said that the pilgrims, who had come from Chintal in Hyderabad, drowned while taking a dip in an unsafe zone of the river, away from the designated bathing area.

"The loss of five lives is deeply saddening. Devotees must follow safety guidelines while bathing in the Godavari. Bathing is strictly permitted only in the designated stepped areas," she said.

Collector Abhinav assured that safety protocols will be enforced more stringently going forward. She said that directions have already been issued to Bainsa RDO and other local officials to conduct a thorough review of the incident and submit a report.

She also mentioned that necessary relief measures have been initiated for the grieving family. The district administration, she said, is committed to taking strong preventive steps to ensure such tragedies do not recur.

The Collector emphasized the need for public awareness, proper signage, and deployment of personnel to alert visitors about restricted zones in the river.

This tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for enhanced safety arrangements at riverfront pilgrimage sites, especially during monsoon months when water currents can change unexpectedly.