Hyderabad Doctor’s Body Recovered From Tungabhadra River After 32-Hour Search

Dr Ananya Rao, who was preparing for her MD, had been on a three-day vacation to Hampi with two friends when the tragedy occurred.

Dr. Rao’s body was recovered on Thursday evening from the area where she had jumped.

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The body of 27-year-old from Hyderabad was recovered from the Tungabhadra River near Sanapur in Gangavathi taluk on Thursday evening, following an intensive 32-hour search operation. Dr Ananya Rao, who was preparing for her MD, had been on a three-day vacation to Hampi with two friends when the tragedy occurred.

The incident took place on Wednesday when Dr. Rao and her friends stopped by the river on their way to Anjanadri Hill, as per a report on The Hindu. Captivated by the flowing water, she decided to swim. She also requested her friends to record a video of the dive. 

According to eyewitnesses, she jumped off a cliff into the river but was unable to swim back to the shore due to the strong currents, reported The New Indian Express. Despite being a swimmer, she struggled against the powerful flow and was swept away.

In #Karnataka's #Koppal, a massive search operation is underway for #Hyderabad-based doctor #AnanyaRao, who went missing after jumping into the #TungabhadraRiver while filming a social media reel. Rescue teams have been stationed at the site since morning, battling strong water… pic.twitter.com/fpB4vkHilY

— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) February 20, 2025

A viral video of the incident shows Dr. Rao hesitating momentarily before jumping into the river. She swam briefly but soon found herself overwhelmed by the water’s force. Her friends immediately raised an alarm, and local authorities were alerted, as per report on Deccan Chronicle. Rescue teams, including expert divers, were deployed to locate her, but the rocky terrain and strong currents made the operation challenging.

The search efforts continued through the night and into the next day, with teams using advanced equipment and resources to scour the river. Dr. Rao’s body was recovered on Thursday evening from the area where she had jumped. The location, surrounded by rocky outcrops, had complicated the rescue mission.

Dr Rao, a resident of Kompally in Hyderabad, had completed her MBBS and was pursuing postgraduate studies. She was a close relative of a former Congress MLA from Telangana, who, along with her parents, was present during the search operations.