Five drown in Godavari; three go 'missing' in Telangana

At least five youths died today and three others are feared drowned in two separate incidents when they went for a holy bath in Godavari river on the occasion of 'Maha Sivaratri' in two Telangana districts, police said.
In the first incident reported in Bhadadri-Kothagudem district, four youths, who went for holy dip and bath in Godavari river drowned, they said adding one of them went deep into the waters and suddenly started drowning and seeing him drown three others tried to help him out but the trio also drowned alongwith him in the process.
"All the four bodies have been retrieved and autopsy has been conducted and handed over to their family members," Deputy Superintendent of Police (Manuguru Sub-Division) Ashok Kumar told PTI over phone.

The deceased were identified as A Nagender, G Premkumar, T Muralikrishna and E B Pavan (all aged between 20 and 21), the DSP said.
In another incident, a group of four persons went for bathing in Godavari and one 30-year-old man identified as Srikant drowned and three of his friends are feared drowned, Mancherial Rural Police Station Inspector Praveen Kumar said.
"Srikant's body has been recovered and search operation is on to locate three others," the Inspector said. Further probe is on.