Godavari river tragedy: After Indrayani, Five Devotees Drown in Godavari Near Basar

In yet another tragic river incident following the Indrayani bridge collapse in Pune district, five devotees from Telangana have drowned in the Godavari River near Basar, a town on the Telangana–Maharashtra border, adjacent to Nanded district. The victims were part of an 18-member family from Chintal Bazaar, Hyderabad, who had travelled to Shri Saraswati Devasthan in Basar for darshan. According to reports, before visiting the temple, some family members decided to bathe in the river. However, due to the sudden and unpredictable rise in the Godavari’s water level, five people were swept away and drowned.

This heartbreaking incident comes just hours after the collapse of an old iron bridge over the Indrayani River in Kundmala, Maval taluka, Pune, where 6 people have already been confirmed dead and 20–25 tourists are feared to have been swept away. Both tragedies have triggered shock and grief across Maharashtra and Telangana, especially as they occurred on a Sunday, a day when many people had gathered for pilgrimages and monsoon outings.

Rescue operations are underway at both sites. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious near water bodies amid heavy rainfall and rising river levels across the region. Officials have also called for stricter crowd control and safety measures near popular religious and tourist spots, particularly during the monsoon season.