Three Class 9 students drown at Vizag beach during school holiday

Three Class 9 students drowned in the Arabian Sea near Rushikonda on Visakhapatnam's Bheemili beach road on Tuesday, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns about beach safety and supervision during school holidays. The tragedy unfolded near the IT Park Junction area of the beach, where the students had ventured with three other companions.

The students, whose identities have not been disclosed, were part of a group of six young people who had come to the beach during a school holiday. Details of the exact circumstances that led to the drowning remain unclear, though authorities have begun preliminary investigations into the incident.

The incident highlights the dangers posed by unsupervised visits to the sea, particularly during school breaks when groups of young people frequently gather at beaches across coastal cities. Beach authorities typically advise against swimming in undesignated areas and without proper supervision or lifeguard presence.

Local police and coast guard personnel were alerted to the incident and began recovery operations. The bodies of the three students were recovered from the water. Officials have initiated procedures to inform families and conduct further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The Visakhapatnam district administration is expected to issue advisories reminding the public about beach safety protocols and the importance of adequate supervision for young visitors to coastal areas.