Laughter turns to screams as 3 girls drown taking selfies at Andhra waterfall
According to police, the girls were standing on slippery rocks close to the falls and trying to take selfies when they lost their footing and slipped into the water. Officials said none of them knew how to swim.
Three teen girls drowned while attempting to take selfies at a waterfall in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district.
The incident occurred on Thursday in the Ananthagiri hills, where four girls from Jambuvalasa village in Hukumpeta mandal had gone on an outing to the Mulagummi waterfall, a forested location near Visakhapatnam.
According to police, the girls were standing on slippery rocks close to the falls and trying to take selfies when they lost their footing and slipped into the water. Officials said none of them knew how to swim, worsening the situation as they were pulled by the current.
Locals rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help and managed to rescue one of the girls, who was later shifted to a hospital. However, the other three—identified as Trisha (17), Ratnakumari (16), and Pavitra (16)—were swept away and could not be saved.
Police teams later reached the site and retrieved the bodies. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events.
Authorities noted that while the waterfall may appear relatively small, the terrain is extremely slippery and the currents can be deceptively strong, making it hazardous for visitors.
Police have urged tourists to exercise caution and avoid venturing too close to water bodies, especially in remote areas, or attempting selfies in risky conditions.