Holiday Trip Turns Tragic at Sarpanpally Lake

On July 5, two women from Patna, Bihar—Ritika Kumari (52) and Poonam Singh (53)—drowned when their boat capsized at Sarpanpally Lake near Vikarabad, Telangana. The day trip involved four families from Chennai staying at a local resort.

What Happened?

Around 4:30 pm, strong winds and a sudden gust flipped their pedal boat. The women and their granddaughters—ages 3 and 1½—plunged into the water.

Rescue Efforts & Casualties

Resort staff and relatives jumped into the lake to assist. The grandchildren and a relative who rescued them survived; the women were pulled out unconscious and later declared dead at the hospital. One rescuer was treated for minor injuries.

Safety Concerns Raised

The boat operator reportedly swam to safety unassisted, and family members claim the resort failed to provide adequate safety measures or immediate help.

Official Response & Investigation

Local police said they recovered the bodies and have registered a case. Further investigation is ongoing to determine if negligence played a role.

Why It Matters

• Trivia: Small resort boats are often unregulated, increasing the risk in sudden weather changes.
• Learning: Pedal or paddle boats can become unstable in winds above 20 km/h.

Next Steps

Authorities are reviewing the resort’s safety protocols and examining whether life jackets or emergency equipment were on board.

Source: ThePrint

Source: Theprint