It was a holy dip that ended in a tragedy for the two families of Prakashveer Mudiraj and his close relative Naveen Mudiraj.
Five members of the two families lost their lives during a trip to Gangavathi lake in Koppal district of Karnataka for a holy bath in the auspicious month of Kartheekam.
An electrician, Prakashveer of Badichowdi in Sultanbazar lost three of his daughters in the accident.
His relative Naveen lost his son and younger brother. “It was 11.30 a.m. on Monday. Six of us entered the lake for a holy bath. Unaware of the danger awaiting us, we started splashing water and moving playfully,” Vishal, a relative of Naveen, recalled on Tuesday.
Vishal, Naveen’s son G. Ashish Sai, 15, younger brother G. Raghavender, 32, Prakashveer’s daughters — Pravalika, 16, Pavithra, 15, and Pavani, 13, — were in the water while others were on the bank getting ready for the dip.
“We were enjoying fun in the water when suddenly Raghavender, Sai and the three girls slipped into deep water,” the teenager said.
None of them knew swimming.
“It was scary and shocking. Each tried to save the other, only to slip further deep into the lake. I managed to reach the bank,” he cried. Those on the bank screamed for help as their loved ones were drowning in front of their eyes.
By the time villagers arrived, all the five had drowned.
Local officials brought expert swimmers and fished out the bodies. An autopsy was performed at a local hospital, after which, in the early hours of Tuesday, the bodies were brought to Hyderabad.
Cries of friends, relatives and residents of the locality filled Naveen’s house in Bowenpally as the bodies of Ashish and Raghavender arrived.
“Ashish was not just my best friend but more than a brother to me. I am unable to digest that I cannot see him again,” his schoolmate R. Dikshit said.
Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at Prakashveer’s house in Badichowdi as no one could control tears on seeing the bodies of the three siblings together.
“They were known as well-mannered and intelligent in the locality. Sad that almighty cut their lives short,” residents of the area said.