Andhra student Rupak Reddy Padini drowns in US’ George Lake

Srikakulam: A 25-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh drowned in George Lake in the US when he was reportedly taking photographs.

Identified as Rupak Reddy Padini, he hailed from Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district. He was studying MS at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Pennsylvania. He went to the US eight months ago.

The incident happened at Lamb Shanty Bay in Hague when Rupak and his friends visited George Lake for boating.

According to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Rupak was with a group of friends in the area of Lamb Shanty Bay in Hague on August 27, at around 3.20 p.m.

The group had tied off a pontoon boat near the shore and were standing in the water when a wave knocked Rupak backward from a shallow part of the lake to a steep drop-off.

Rupak who was wearing a life jacket, slipped out of it and went underwater.

Using sonar, divers from the Hague and North Queensbury volunteer fire departments found Rupak within minutes about 100 feet from shore in 25 feet of water, however, he could not be saved.

A similar incident happened in July, when a student from East Godavari G Sai Surya Avinash accidentally slipped into a waterfall and died in the US on July 7.

Avinash from Chitalya in the East Godavari district, drowned at Barberville Falls in Albany, New York. He went to the US 18 months ago and was on the verge of completing the MS course.