Three people die from falling through ice on frozen Arizona lake

Three people died in Arizona after they tried to take a photo on a frozen lake but fell through the ice, authorities reported. 

Deputies at the Forest Lakes Substation responded to a report that two men and one woman had fallen through the ice after walking on Woods Canyon Lake at around 3:30 p.m., according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. 

According to the group’s two other companions, the trio had been trying to take a photo on the ice and were about 25 to 35 yards from shore when they fell in, the sheriff’s office spokesman added. 

When they arrived at the scene, deputies were able to find the woman and pull her out of the water. However, despite administering life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the scene. 

It took authorities more than a day to recover the other two bodies from the frozen waters using a boat rental and diving and water rescue teams. 

The victims were identified as Gokul Mediseti, 47, Narayana Muddana, 49, and Haritha Muddana. All of the victims were originally from India, but lived in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, authorities reported. 

Narayana and Haritha left behind two daughters, aged 7 and 12, whom a neighbor and close friend is looking after. 

"I was literally shocked and shaken. I [wasn't] able to speak," Kishore Pittala said."His kids and my kids go to the same school. He does morning rides, and I pick up the kids in the afternoon," Pittala said.