Engineering student missing after boat fire on Hussain Sagar Lake; search operations underway

A 21-year-old engineering student, Ajay from Nagaram, went missing after a fire engulfed two boats on Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad on Sunday night. The mishap reportedly occurred during the ‘Bharat Mata Maha Aarthi’ event held at People’s Plaza to celebrate Republic Day, attended earlier by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.

Ajay had informed his mother at 8:30 pm that he was at Tank Bund with friends and would return home after midnight. However, his phone was switched off when she tried calling him at 11 pm. Around 2 am, his friends called the family to report that Ajay had gone missing after the fire incident.

On Monday morning, Ajay’s family rushed to Hussain Sagar and registered a missing complaint. Police immediately launched a search operation, deploying two Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams with expert swimmers. Additional teams have been mobilized to intensify the search.

The fire reportedly began when sparks from firecrackers used during the event fell onto the boats. One person, Ganapati, sustained severe burns and was admitted to Yashoda Hospital, while four others with minor injuries were treated at Gandhi Hospital.

Ajay’s family suspects he may have jumped into the lake to escape the fire. The tragic incident occurred shortly after dignitaries left the venue following cultural performances and speeches.

Authorities continue search efforts, with hopes of locating the missing student. The accident has left the community shaken, raising concerns over safety measures during public events.