Excursion that began on high note ends in tragedy for 32 from Ongole

The outing of 72 members of the Ongole Walkers’ Association, which was all fun and frolic early Sunday, ended in a tragedy while they were on a cruise for more than 40 minutes on the waters.
Excursion that began on high note ends in tragedy for 32 from Ongole

VIJAYAWADA: The outing of 72 members of the Ongole Walkers’ Association, which was all fun and frolic early Sunday, ended in a tragedy while they were on a cruise for more than 40 minutes on the waters of the Krishna.

All the members reached Vijayawada around 9 am in two private buses and went to the Lord Shiva Temple in Amaravati. They spent more than two hours in Amaravati and returned to Vijayawada around 2 pm. Later, they went for darshan of Goddess Kanaka Durga. 

They travelled to Punnami Ghat and then to Pavithra Sangamam Ghat. While 32 members boarded the boat belonging to Simple Water Sports, the others remained at Punnami Ghat for sightseeing. “We never expected this could happen to us. We will never forget the last week of the Kartika month as it took our happiness away. My husband and two of our neighbours died in the tragedy in front of me,” survivor Sri Lakshmi, wife of Prabhakar Reddy, said, while wiping her tears.

Other survivors, seven-year-old Pola Sai and Vemireddy Kundana (20), shared their experience with TNIE. They were devastated and could not come to terms with the fact that they lost their neighbours minutes after they started their fun trip.

When TNIE tried to console them, they cried aloud and said they had no idea how they would inform the parents of the deceased about the tragedy. “We were overjoyed after the tour coordinator told us that the confluence point of two rivers Krishna and Godavari was part of our trip. But we never thought it will turn into such a big tragedy.

Sayana Koteswara Rao, the association president who planned the trip, also died in the accident,” said a sobbing Kundana.  As the boat capsized, some were lucky to survive but lost their mobile phones and other valuable items. “I have no money and I lost my mobile phone. For more than two hours, I’m finding a way to tell my parents and kin that I am alive. They will be anxiously looking for me,” said Kanta Thulasi, another survivor.

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The New Indian Express
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