Indian Student From Hyderabad Drowns in Lake in Toronto During Birthday Celebrations

In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a student from Telangana, India, lost his life while celebrating his birthday with friends at a lake in Toronto, Canada. The victim, identified as Praneeth from Meerpet, Ranga Reddy district, had gone swimming in the lake during the celebrations, resulting in a fatal accident.

Praneeth, who had moved to Canada in 2019 to pursue higher education, went out with his friends on the fateful day to celebrate his birthday. According to reports, the group rented a boat to enjoy the day on the lake. However, things took a tragic turn when Praneeth, in the spirit of fun and excitement, reportedly made a bet with his friends and decided to swim across the lake instead of using the boat.

As he reached the middle of the lake, Praneeth began to struggle in the water. Despite the frantic efforts of his friends to save him, he drowned before they could offer any assistance. Videos from the day show Praneeth jumping into the lake and later taking selfies with his friends aboard a motorboat. These joyful moments quickly turned to despair as the group realized Praneeth was in danger.

Praneeth from #Hyderabad studying in Canada, drowned in Lake Clear, Toronto. Praneeth, who was celebrating his elder brother’s birthday with friends, accidentally drowned while swimminghttps://t.co/rUFKeyRiDh@Hyderabad_Mail pic.twitter.com/WnRN9ELo55

— Neelima Eaty (@NeelimaEaty) September 16, 2024 

Praneeth’s father, devastated by the news, has made a public appeal to both the Telangana and Indian governments to expedite the process of bringing his son’s body back to India. Speaking to reporters, he recounted the painful details of the incident. “Both of my sons, along with their friends, visited the lake to celebrate Praneeth’s birthday on Saturday. On Sunday, they decided to swim. While everyone returned, the younger one [Praneeth] did not,” the grieving father said.

Praneeth’s elder brother had joined him in Canada in 2022, and both were working toward building a future in the country. The news of Praneeth’s untimely death reached the family in India on Monday through friends who were present at the scene. Local authorities and rescue teams responded promptly, but by the time they arrived, it was too late, and Praneeth’s body was recovered from the lake.

This tragic incident has left the community in shock and serves as a grim reminder of similar incidents involving international students abroad. Earlier this year, in July, another student from Telangana, Sai Surya Avinash Gadde, lost his life in a drowning incident in Albany, New York. Gadde, who was studying at Trine University in Indiana, died while swimming near Barberville Falls. His passing marked yet another case of a young student from Telangana meeting an untimely end in a foreign country.

The drowning of young students like Praneeth and Gadde has raised concerns among the Indian diaspora, as many students travel abroad for higher education. Families of these students are urging authorities to take greater steps in ensuring their safety and well-being in unfamiliar environments.

The Indian Consulate in Toronto has expressed its condolences and is coordinating with local authorities to assist in the repatriation of Praneeth’s body. Telangana state officials have also been in contact with the family, offering support during this devastating time.

The loss of Praneeth has sent shockwaves across Telangana, as well as within the Indian community in Canada. Social media has been flooded with tributes, with many calling for more awareness about water safety for international students. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts go out to Praneeth’s family. We hope this incident reminds students to prioritize safety while abroad,” said a community leader in Toronto.

As the family awaits the return of Praneeth’s body, they are left grappling with the pain of losing their beloved son on what was meant to be a joyful occasion.