A Ganesh idol immersion turned tragic in Telangana’s Sangareddy district after six students drowned in a lake during Ganesh Visarjan on Wednesday evening.

The incident took place at Neredu Cheruvu near Pedda Kanjerla village, under the Patancheru police station limits. The students were staying at Sirisha Memorial Charitable Trust, which provides accommodation and education to children from vulnerable backgrounds. They had gone to the waterbody to immerse a Ganesh idol as part of the festival celebrations.

The students entered the water during the immersion, apparently unaware of the sudden increase in depth. A deep pit beneath the water is believed to have caught them off guard. Once they moved into the deeper section, they struggled to return to the shore.

The six victims were identified as Siddharth, Narasimha Raju, Sumanth, Ganesh, Uday Kiran and Sham Kumar. Most of them were pursuing diploma courses, while Narasimha Raju was studying engineering. Siddharth was a Class 10 student. The victims were young, with most reportedly below the age of 20.

Several other students were present at the spot when the incident happened. Two or three managed to reach the shore, while six were trapped in the water. People at the scene raised an alarm and a search operation was launched soon after.

Police, local residents and rescue personnel searched the waterbody for the missing students. Their bodies were later recovered and shifted to Patancheru Government Hospital for postmortem examinations.

The circumstances surrounding the immersion site have raised questions about safety and supervision. The pond was not among the designated locations identified for Ganesh idol immersion. Such designated sites generally have arrangements for crowd control, lighting, trained swimmers and emergency rescue teams.

The location where the students entered the water reportedly had limited lighting. There were also concerns about the absence of adequate adult supervision when the students went into the pond.

Investigators are examining whether the students were aware of the depth of the water and whether proper safety instructions had been given before they left the trust premises. The condition of the waterbody and the presence of the deep pit are also part of the investigation.

The case took a further turn on Thursday after police arrested the hostel warden in connection with the deaths. The warden was accused of negligence in relation to the students’ safety and supervision. He was produced before a court and sent to judicial remand.

Authorities are also looking into whether permission had been obtained for the idol immersion at the location and whether the students were accompanied by responsible adults.

Sangareddy Collector Prateek Jain visited the area following the incident and met students and staff associated with the trust. The district administration announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to the family of each of the six students who died.

The deaths have cast a shadow over Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in the region. Ganesh Visarjan is one of the most important parts of the festival, with devotees carrying idols in processions before immersing them in water. Large gatherings are common at lakes, ponds, rivers and specially created immersion points.

The Sangareddy incident has highlighted the risks associated with entering unfamiliar waterbodies during such celebrations. Water levels can change sharply within a few metres, while submerged pits, uneven surfaces and loose soil can make even seemingly shallow areas dangerous.

The risks increase after sunset when poor visibility makes it difficult to judge the depth of the water. The presence of large groups can also make it harder to identify when someone is in distress.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the deaths and directed officials to provide assistance to the affected families. He also called for greater attention to safety arrangements during idol immersion.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla also expressed condolences and urged people to exercise caution around waterbodies during immersion activities.

Authorities have been asked to strengthen safety arrangements at immersion points, including lighting, barricades, rescue personnel and emergency medical support. Organisers and families have also been urged to ensure that children and young people do not enter deep or unfamiliar water without proper supervision.

The tragedy has left the students’ friends, teachers and the charitable trust community in deep shock. What began as a religious celebration ended with six young lives being lost within minutes.

The investigation will now establish the sequence of events leading to the drownings and determine whether lapses in supervision or safety arrangements contributed to the deaths. Police are also examining the role of the hostel management and the circumstances under which the students were taken to the immersion site.