Hyderabad student falls into river, body yet to be found
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A 20-year-old engineering student was feared drowned after falling from an off-shore casino early today. A case has been registered under Section 336 ~ endangering human life ~ against the captain, security in charge and management on the complaint by the brother of the boy Sai Danush whose body has still not been found despite the marine police searching the Mandovi River.
Dhanush along with his brother Shivachaitanya Reddy and two friends Senthil Ramkrishna Raj and Saish Shanamukha Balkrishna, all 20 years and hailing from Hyderabad had arrived in Goa last weekend with police saying they had entered the casino at about 7:30 pm after touring the northern beach belt earlier in the day.
The incident is said to have happened at about 3:20 am Sunday in an open space on the second level of the casino, with the victim’s brother telling police that while the group of friends were on the ground level he and his brother were on the second level. There his brother slipped and fell into the water as the floor was slippery due to incessant rains.
“At about 12:30 am, I and my brother went to the restaurant which is on the second deck. I had soup. My brother went out through the restricted area thinking that the way was towards the bathroom,” he said in a statement to the police, a copy accessed by Herald.
“I followed him, as the outer deck was wet due to the rain, he fell on the floor, I picked him up and he stood and suddenly took a roll towards outer side due to which he
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accidentally fell in the river,” he said.
Shivachaitanya jumped into the water to rescue his brother but couldn’t locate him. The casino’s crew rescued Shivachaitanya and brought him aboard.
The complaint filed in this case alleges that there were no lifeguards and no security in the area.
When Herald tried to speak to casino officials, they were reluctant to speak with one saying that the ‘higher up’ will speak only on Monday.
“We have many directors. You call on the landline number and the operator will connect you to the superior,” he said even refusing to identify his bosses.
A senior police officer told Herald, that they will seek for CCTV grab right from the time the boys entered the casino till the incident happened.
The family members are expected in the State tomorrow.
