RAICHUR
In a tragic incident, four persons from Raichur district drowned in the Tungabhadra river in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, leaving their families and villagers in deep shock. The deceased have been identified as Ratna Mahantesh (24), Mahantesh Pithambar (28), Umavati Gomvidha (35), and Shivananda Hanumantharaya (24), all residents of Kurdi village in Manvi taluk of Raichur district. Among the victims, Ratna and Mahantesh were a married couple.
According to sources, the four had travelled to Kosagi village in Kandakura area of Andhra Pradesh to attend a relative’s wedding. After the ceremony, they reportedly went to the backwaters of the Rajolibanda dam on the Tungabhadra river for a swim. While bathing in the river, they are said to have ventured into deeper waters and drowned. The exact circumstances leading to the incident are yet to be fully ascertained. The tragedy occurred near Kandakura in Kosagi village, close to the Rajolibanda (Rajalabanda) irrigation project, which lies along the border region adjoining Manvi taluk of pm district. The sudden deaths have cast a pall of gloom over Kurdi village, where celebrations turned into mourning. Family members and relatives, who had gathered for the wedding, were left devastated by the incident. Local authorities are expected to conduct further inquiry into the incident.