5 students feared drowned at Rushikonda beach

VISAKHAPATNAM: Friendship Day turned tragic for a group of friends who had gone for a swim at Rushikonda beach here on Sunday evening. Five of them went missing and are feared to have drowned while six others swam to safety.
The 11 youths came to the beach to celebrate the friendship day. While they were swimming in the waters, they were caught in a strong current which took them deep inside the sea.While six of them managed to swim safely to the shore, their five friends drowned.
All the youngsters are intermediate second year students in NRI College at NAD Kotha Road. Eyewitnesses said the students ventured into the waters around 4 pm. "After a few minutes, a big wave surged towards them and took them deep into the waters," an eyewitness said.
Police have launched a search operation with the help of local fishermen. The victims were identified as Appa Rao, Joedeep, Madeena Vali, Kishore and Jnanesh.
Locals said there were no cops at the beach at the time of the mishap. Though marine police station was inaugurated hardly 100 metres away from the beach recently, there were no life guards and expert swimmers to rescue the students. Rushikonda beach is highly accident-prone and reports a high number of drowning cases.