HYDERABAD: Two students from Andhra Pradesh pursuing higher studies in Australia accidentally drowned while swimming at Millaa Millaa Falls near Cairns in Queensland on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Chaitanya Mupparaju from Bapatla district and Surya Teja Bobba from Prakasam district. No details were known about the students, but both were said to be in their 20s. An online request to raise funds for their families to bear funeral expenses was met by Wednesday afternoon.
According to Queensland Police, when one of the two friends seemed to be struggling in the water, the other tried to help but both drowned. "It appears that one man got into difficulty and that a second man has then come to render him assistance, and unfortunately, both men perished," inspector Jason Smith has been quoted in the media as telling reporters about the accident.
As the duo could not be spotted, Queensland Police were informed and cops conducted a search at 8.50am Tuesday.
USD 90k donated to GoFundMe for victims' kin A helicopter was also pressed into service even as ambulance personnel remained on standby to provide the students immediate medical assistance if they were located.
Another person was said to have been accompanying the duo when the accident took place. Police have not identified him, but said he appeared to be in a state of shock.
"We are deeply saddened to share the devastating news of the recent accident that claimed the lives of two promising young students from India, Chaitanya Mupparaju and Surya Teja Bobba," Surya Mangapati, a friend of the two students, said in an appeal on GoFundMe. By Wednesday afternoon, over $90,000 was donated in response to the GoFundMe appeal, which exceeded the target. Surya said the funds would provide some relief to the families.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Sushil Rao is Editor-Special Reports, at The Times of India, Hyde...
Read MoreSushil Rao is Editor-Special Reports, at The Times of India, Hyderabad. He began his journalism career at the age of 20 in 1988. He is a gold medalist in journalism from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad from where he did his post-graduation from. He has been with The Times of India’s Hyderabad edition since its launch in 2000. He has also done an introductory course in film studies from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and also from the Central University of Kerala equipping himself with the knowledge of filmmaking for film criticism. He has authored four books. In his career spanning 34 years, he has worked for five newspapers and has also done television reporting. He was also a web journalist during internet’s infancy in the mid 1990s in India. He covers defence, politics, diaspora, innovation, administration, the film industry, Hyderabad city and Telangana state, and human interest stories. He is also a podcaster, blogger, does video reporting and makes documentaries.
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