Two children still missing after boat tragedy; parents stare at bleak future

By Newsmeter Network  Published on  17 Sep 2019 7:28 AM GMT
Two children still missing after boat tragedy; parents stare at bleak future

Visakhapatnam: Life has come to a standstill for T Appala Raju and T Bhagya Lakshmi who lost their two daughters T Vaishnavi (3) and T Ananya (18 months). The two children are now missing after the boat tragedy in Godavari River near Kachuchuluru in East Godavari district on Sunday.

At their residence in Arilova in Vizag city on Monday, Bhagya Lakshmi continuously weeps while her husband Appala Raju sits still, numbed by the terrible shock as they have no trace on the whereabouts of their children. Appala Raju’s mother, Appalanarsamma died in the boat tragedy and her body was retrieved.

A pall of gloom descended on a bylane in Arilova as people gathered at Appala Raju's residence. There was a deep sense of gloom among his relatives, friends and few others in the colony who tried comforting the husband-wife duo.

A total of 13 members from four families from Vizag, including six children and five elderly women, belonging to the same circle were travelling in the Royal Vasishta boat, which was on its way to the picturesque Papikondalu tourist spot. The boat capsized in the Godavari River on Sunday. The four families were living in different locations in Vizag.

"My mother (Appalanarsamma) had a lot of affection for my daughters Vaishnavi and Ananya and she also planned a trip with her two grand-daughters to fulfil her vow of tonsuring her elder grand-daughter at Bhadrachalam temple. My mother along with my daughters and relatives boarded the Royal Vasishta boat to reach Bhadrachalam and we came to know that the boat capsized in the middle of River. How can we live without my daughters and mother?" said, Appala Raju in a choked voice and sorrowful eyes.

The tragic incident brought a great loss to our family and there is no meaning for our life in future said Bhagya Lakshmi, the mother of the two children. As my husband has been suffering from fever, we stayed away from the trip whereas as my daughters went with their grandmother, she added.

Appala Raju’s relative Madhupada Ramana Babu, who was instrumental for the tour of the 13 members, including his wife Aruna Kumari and two children Akhilesh and Kushali, are also missing in the boat tragedy.

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