Our Bureau
Queensland, Australia
Two Indian students studying in Australia tragically drowned at Millaa Millaa Falls near Cairns, Queensland. Chaitanya Mupparaju and Surya Teja Bobba, both in their twenties and hailing from Andhra Pradesh, lost their lives during a swimming accident.
Reports indicate that the unfortunate event occurred when one of the friends appeared to struggle in the water, leading to both of them failing to resurface. Friends and family have described the pair as promising students, mourning their loss deeply.
According to Inspector Jason Smith, the pair entered the water from the shore for a swim. One of them got into difficulty, and the other friend attempted to rescue him. Unfortunately, both men perished in the attempt. A third friend, who was present, witnessed the incident but could not provide immediate assistance. However, he remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities during the rescue operations.
Extensive search operations conducted by Queensland Police, which included the deployment of helicopters and ambulance teams, were unable to locate the missing students immediately. The search took place around Millaa Millaa Falls, a well-known tourist destination celebrated for its tranquil swimming conditions, which was temporarily closed during the efforts but has since reopened. This incident has cast a shadow over the local community, which regarded the location as safe as it has rarely experienced such accidents.
An online fundraising campaign has been initiated on GoFundMe to assist in covering the costs associated with repatriating the bodies of two students back to India. “We are deeply saddened to share the devastating news of the recent accident that claimed the lives of two promising young students from India, Chaitanya Mupparaju and Surya Teja Bobba,” the GoFundMe posted.
The page also added, “Their lives were cut short in a tragic incident that happened at Millaa Millaa Falls on 16th July 2024, leaving their families and loved ones shattered beyond words”.
