BC hostel inmate goes missing at sea; Minister directs officials to deploy Coast Guard teams to trace the victim

Minister for BC Welfare S. Savitha on Saturday expressed shock over a BC hostel student going missing at Muthyalammapalem Beach in Paravada mandal of Anakapalli district.

The Minister directed the district Collector and the District BC Welfare Officer to conduct an extensive search operation to trace the missing student.

According to the statement released by the Minister, the missing student, Surreddy Bhanu Prasad, a 10th class student from Thotavanipalem village in Ravikamat, was staying at the Thana BC Hostel in Paravada mandal.

After returning to the hostel on Friday evening following the cyclone holidays, Bhanu Prasad, along with his hostel mates M. Chandu (Class 10) and S. Ramachandra (Class 9), went to Thana High School on Saturday morning.

However, instead of attending school, the three students, accompanied by N. Siddu, a former BC hostel student, went to Muthyalammapalem Beach. Even while they were preparing to take a bath, local fishermen warned them about the rough sea conditions. But, ignoring the warning, the four boys entered the water where strong waves pulled them in.

The fishermen nearby acted swiftly and rescued Chandu, Ramachandra, and Siddu, but Bhanu Prasad was swept away by the waves and went missing, said District BC Welfare Officer Sridevi.

She informed the Minister that four Coast Guard teams and divers were currently conducting an intensive search to locate the missing boy.

The Minister immediately spoke to Anakapalli district Collector Vijaya Krishnan and instructed her to trace the student without delay, utilising the help of the Coast Guard teams and professional divers. She also directed Ms. Sridevi and Additional Director of BC Welfare Chandrasekhar Raju to inform the student’s parents immediately and provide them necessary assistance.