Hyderabad: A 13-year-old boy drowned in a canal while fishing in Ganapavaram village of Kodad mandal on Wednesday, casting a pall of gloom over the village.
The deceased was identified as Kukkadapu Manoj, a Class 5 student of a private school in Kodad town. Locals said that with schools closed for a holiday, Manoj had gone fishing near a canal adjoining a local tank.
Boy slips into canal while fishing
According to eyewitnesses, Manoj accidentally slipped into a deep pit in the canal and was swept away. Despite efforts by locals, he could not be saved. Villagers later used an earthmover to break open the pit and retrieve the boy’s body.
His sudden death plunged the village into shock and grief. Large numbers of residents gathered at the site as the rescue operation was carried out.
Police shifted the body to Kodad government hospital for post-mortem examination and registered a case. Officials said further investigation was underway.
The tragedy highlighted recurring safety risks around open water bodies, especially during the rainy season when canals and tanks remain full. Locals appealed to authorities to fence dangerous stretches and warn children against venturing near water.
Manoj’s family was inconsolable as villagers expressed solidarity with them. The incident comes at a time when Telangana has been receiving heavy rainfall, swelling tanks and rivulets across Suryapet district.
