In a devastating incident at Medigadda in Bhupalapally district, six teenage boys drowned in the Godavari River on Saturday evening while trying to take a selfie in the water. Their bodies were recovered the next morning with the help of expert swimmers deployed by police.

The tragedy unfolded around 6 PM when a group of cousins went to bathe in the river. As they ventured further in, unaware of the deep waters, they were suddenly pulled under. The victims were identified as Patti Madhusudhan (18), P Shiva Manoj (15), T Rakshith (13), and K Sagar (16) from Ambatipally village, and Paddu (18) and Rahul (19) from Korlakunta village.

According to Mahadevpur sub-inspector Pavan, the boys were attempting to take a group selfie while wading into the river, despite warnings from P Venkataswamy, father of Madhusudhan and Manoj, who watched helplessly from the shore. None of the boys could swim, and Venkataswamy, also a non-swimmer, could do nothing as the river claimed their lives.

Seven boys had entered the water, but one managed to escape and return to the bank. The others were lost in the current.

Authorities launched a rescue operation using two boats. Once the bodies were located, post-mortem procedures were carried out.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of water bodies, especially for those who cannot swim.