Another tragedy at Sariya Waterfalls in ASR district, two youngsters dead

VISAKHAPATNAM: The death of two more youngsters at Sariya Waterfalls under Ananthagiri police station limits in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district on Sunday has once again brought to the fore the lack of safety measures at the site.
Two of the six youngsters from Vizag city who had gone to Sariya Waterfalls for a joy trip on Sunday (April 13) went missing in the waters. Their bodies were recovered on Monday (April 14) morning. The deceased have been identified as Vasu (25) and Narasimham (23).
Though Andhra Pradesh is home to many waterfalls, Sariya Waterfalls in ASR district has become one of the most dangerous for tourists. More than 40 people, mostly tourists, have drowned and died at Sariya Waterfalls over the past decade.
Gripped by a desire to witness the scenic beauty of Sariya Waterfalls—located around 70 km from Vizag—visitors, mostly youngsters, have continued to flock to the site in recent years.
“Sariya Waterfalls is a dangerous beauty, and one has to trek some distance to reach it. Youngsters have been risking their lives by ignoring the warnings,” said Araku Valley Circle Inspector L. Himagiri.
“As the waterfalls have proven dangerous for visitors, we (the police department) have appointed ten local youngsters as volunteers to guide and warn them to help prevent such tragedies. The volunteers have been cautioning tourists not to venture into certain areas, but some youngsters continue to ignore their suggestions,” Himagiri added.
There are nine major waterfalls in ASR district, which attract large numbers of visitors from September to April.
A few years ago, Ananthagiri police had suggested to the ASR district administration that visitors be restricted from entering Sariya Waterfalls. However, the suggestion was not accepted, considering the site’s tourism potential.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), drowning deaths are classified into three categories—boat capsize, accidental fall into water bodies, and other causes. Of these, 90% of total casualties in Andhra Pradesh fall under the “accidental fall into water bodies” category.