Rescue personnel in search of the youth who have been missing in Gowthami branch of river Godavari at Kamini Lanka, an island in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on Monday, May 26, 2025. Five bodies were retrieved by the NDRF on Tuesday, May 27.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Five dead bodies among the eight youths, who have gone missing and are feared to be drowned in Gowthami branch of river Godavari on Monday (May 26, 2025), have been retrieved by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel during the search operation at the Kamini Lanka under Mummudivaram police limits in Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, on Tuesday.

On Monday, May 26, as many as eight persons, including two minors, have been feared to be drowned while they went to the river for a bath after having lunch at a function. All of them are in the age group of 14-20 years.

Amalapuram Deputy Superintendent of Police T.S.R.K. Prasad told The Hindu: “The dead bodies of five youths have been retrieved from the river Godavari by Tuesday morning and they were identified as Vaddi Mahesh, Elipe Mahesh, Kranthi Maneul and Elaparthi Sai”. The deceased belonging to Kakinada and Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts. The retrived dead bodies have been sent to Mummudivaram Primary Health Centre for post-mortem.

The search operation for the three more missing boys is still in progress by the NDRF personnel.

All the eight youths, who been feared to be drowned in the river, have reportedly ventured into the main course of the river as they were not familiar with the location and depth of the river, stated DSP Mr. Prasad.