Sources said that despite an extensive search operation led by the Indian Coast Guard, the bodies of six engineering students from Gitam University, who drowned off Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, had not been recovered till sunset.
Two of the students were from Hyderabad. They have been identified as P. Sindhuja, 22, CSE student and a resident of Bhavaninagar, Dilsukhnagar; and Perumalla Sainithin, 22, industrial engineering student and a resident of Maheswarinagar, Habsiguda.
Police said that hearing shouts for help, around five local fishermen rushed into the water, but only one student, Rahul Babu, could be rescued. “Though we returned to the waters after rescuing Rahul, no one was seen,” said a fisherman.
The other missing students are: G. Preethi Reddy (CSE), B. Susheel Babu (CSE), Anurag Reddy (ECE) of Warangal and Ramineni Anusha (Mechanical Engineering) of Nalgonda.
Among the seven, three including Anusha were living in the Gitam University hostel, while others were day-scholars residing in the city. “The search will continue till the bodies are found,” said Vizag commissioner J. Purnachandra Rao.
P. Venkateswara Rao, father of missing student Sindhuja, said, “After watching the news, I immediately called to check if she was one of the missing students. Her roommates said that she had left college at around 3 pm and no one was able to trace her. I made several calls to her mobile but got no response; My family is in shock and we are rushing to Vizag. My daughter was supposed to visit Hyderabad this Saturday and we hope to get her back while returning.”
G.Satish, uncle of Ramineni Anusha, said, “She was untraceable since lunch hours; none of her classmates nor the college authorities are able to give any information. We are on our way to Vizag.”