Two drown in the Krishna in separate incidents in Andhra’s Krishna district; bodies picked up

Mines and Geology Minister Kollu Ravindra meets the family of Tirumalasetti Gopiraju at Kottapalli Tummalapalem in Machilipatnam rural mandal. X/@KolluROfficial | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Two people drowned in Krishna on Sunday (October 4, 2026) in separate incidents in Krishna district: a 70-year-old cattle farmer in Madhyalanka and a 25-year-old man who was out fishing with his parents. Experienced swimmers and fishermen retrieved their bodies on Monday.

The body of Munipalli Balaswamy (70), a cattle farmer who drowned in a river in Madhyalanka, was recovered on Monday.

Balaswamy, a native of Patayadlalanka village in Avanigadda mandal, was washed away while rearing cattle in Madhyalanka on Sunday.

In another incident, fishermen recovered the body of Tirumalasetti Gopiraju, 25, from Krishna on Monday.

Gopiraju, along with his parents T. Pothuraju and Naga Lakshmi, went fishing on a country boat on the river on Sunday. They fell into the water when the boat capsized.

Sadly, Gopiraju, a fisherman from Machilipatnam, went hunting in the sea and got lost. This morning I went to visit the victim’s family members. I visited family members of Gopiraju, local fishermen and NDRF staff are working. I consoled the family members not to lose courage. I suggested that fishermen should take proper precautions while fishing and the authorities should also alert the fishermen. I have assured the affected family that we will support the government in all possible ways.

— Kollu Ravindra (@KolluROfficial) October 4, 2026

The couple swam to shore safely, but Gopiraju was swept away by the current.

Mines and Geology Minister Kollu Ravindra visited the bereaved family at Kottapalli Tummalapalem village in Machilipatnam Rural Mandal and consoled them. In a post on X, he said the government would stand by the family in every possible way. He advised fishermen to take necessary precautions before going out to fish and asked officials to urge them to remain vigilant.

Published – 5 Oct 2026 13:44 IST