Sat Jan 04 09:51:54 UTC 2025: ## Six Young Friends’ Picnic Turns Tragic: One Dead, Five Rescued in Andhra Pradesh
**Railway Kodur, Andhra Pradesh, January 4, 2025** – A joyous picnic turned into tragedy for six young friends visiting the Guntimadugu lake in the Seshachalam Hills of Annamayya district on Friday. One of the friends, 24-year-old Sai Datta, drowned, while five others were rescued after a nine-hour operation by police and forest officials.
The group, all residents of Srikalahasti, ventured into the remote lake area on motorcycles. As dusk approached, Sai Datta encountered difficulty in the water and despite his friends’ attempts at CPR, he could not be revived. The remaining five, aged between 19 and 24, became stranded, their mobile phones either lost or without signal, hindering their attempts to call for help.
A friend back in Srikalahasti alerted the police, leading to a large-scale rescue operation spearheaded by Circle-Inspector K. Hemasundar Rao. The challenging terrain, characterized by steep hills and thick vegetation, added to the complexity of the operation. The rescue team, comprising 20 personnel, successfully reached the location after a two-and-a-half-hour journey, eventually rescuing the five stranded youths and recovering Sai Datta’s body.
The Guntimadugu lake is known for its dangerous conditions, including hidden whirlpools and the presence of sloth bears. Sai Datta, a graduate known for his social service, was taken to the government hospital in Railway Kodur.
The incident has left the community mourning the loss of a young life and highlighting the dangers of visiting remote, inaccessible water bodies without proper safety precautions.
First Piper 