127 drownings in 10 years expose safety lapses at Basar temple’s Godavari River ghats

The locals have suggested installing showers instead of direct river access, posting doctors and paramedical staff near the ghats, and deploying trained rescue teams to reduce fatalities.

Nirmal: The ancient Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam at Basar has made headlines for the wrong reasons. Five young devotees, part of a 20-member pilgrimage group from Hyderabad, including three siblings drowned in the Godavari river while taking a holy dip at the temple town on Sunday, exposing serious safety lapses.

Endowments Department officials said eight bathing ghats have been created for the convenience of devotees who wish to take a holy dip before darshan of the presiding deity at the shrine, regarded as the only temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi in South India. However, the department is drawing criticism for failing to prevent recurring drownings in the river.

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According to data from Basar police, 122 people, mostly temple devotees, drowned in the river between 2015 and 2025. With the latest incident, the toll has risen to 127, averaging 12 deaths a year.

Locals pointed out that many devotees, unfamiliar with the river’s depth and current, often wade into dangerous zones. They attributed the frequent tragedies to the lack of proper safety measures at the bathing ghats. They suggested installing showers instead of direct river access, posting doctors and paramedical staff near the ghats, and deploying trained rescue teams to reduce fatalities.

Temple management has also come under fire. Locals alleged that officials and elected representatives are showing negligence in the administration of the renowned temple. The shrine is largely being run by in-charge executive officers, with review meetings conducted only once during full moon days, leaving key administrative issues unaddressed.

Locals demanded the installation of warning boards and cautionary signage at the ghats to alert devotees. They also urged the authorities to develop a system to update pilgrims about flood conditions and river water levels. The identification of black spots, areas where drownings recur, and deployment of rescue teams were among their key suggestions.

Terming Sunday’s incident “unfortunate”, Nirmal Collector Abhilasha Abhinav said all necessary measures would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. She directed officials to conduct a detailed review and ensure safety arrangements for devotees at the river. She added that restrictions would now be implemented strictly.