In a somber development from Tirupati, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) successfully retrieved the bodies of three young boys on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The boys had been swept away by the fierce currents of the Swarnamukhi River the previous evening, Friday, October 24. For a grueling 24 hours, both the Tirupati rural police and SDRF teams relentlessly searched the river, battling challenging conditions including heavy rains.
The tragedy unfolded when a group of seven boys ventured into the river for a swim, celebrating a friend’s birthday. Devastatingly, four of them were overpowered by the river’s strong currents. The body of 18-year-old Balu was recovered almost immediately on Friday evening.
In a desperate bid to find any survivors, authorities deployed drones to scour the riverbanks and surrounding areas. Despite these advanced efforts, the search proved fruitless for the remaining missing boys.
Holding onto a fragile hope that the boys might still be alive and awaiting rescue, SDRF teams pressed on with their search until Saturday evening. Their tireless efforts ultimately led to the recovery of the bodies of Prakash (17), Chinna (15), and Teju (19). These boys, all close in age, included some still attending SSC (Secondary School Certificate) and others who had left their intermediate studies.
Chandragiri MLA Pulivarthi Venkata Mani Prasad (also known as Nani) and Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu personally oversaw the challenging rescue operation from the riverfront.
Following post-mortem examinations, the bodies were respectfully handed over to their grieving families. It emerged that the parents were unaware of their sons’ excursion to the river, which was swollen and dangerous at the time. A heartbreaking detail also revealed that some of the boys were not strong swimmers.
Superintendent Subbarayudu issued a heartfelt plea to parents, urging them to diligently supervise their children’s activities and ensure they remain safely indoors during severe weather. As a proactive safety measure, police and revenue departments have erected barricades at all high-risk locations, including reservoirs, irrigation tanks, causeways, and culverts, to prevent further tragedies.