Gonda: Four Drown During Durga Idol Immersion, Two Still Missing

गोण्डा | बी पी त्रिपाठी

Four Dead in Separate Immersion Incidents

In a series of unfortunate events during the immersion of Goddess Durga idols in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district, a total of four people have drowned. The incidents, which occurred in two separate police station areas, have deeply shocked local communities and placed the administration on high alert.

The first incident took place at Laxmanpur Ghat in the Tarabganj police station area, where three youths were submerged in deep water. Separately, at Bhaiswahwa Ghat in the Dhanepur police station area, one person lost their life while attempting to rescue others.

Rescue Efforts and Ongoing Search in Tarabganj

At Laxmanpur Ghat near the Pauhua Sammay Mata temple in Tarabganj, six individuals began to drown in the river's deep waters during the immersion ceremony. Swift action by locals managed to rescue three youths: Raghuvar Prajapati, Pradeep Kumar, and Chandra Prakash. However, Sumit Prajapati (18), Abhishek Tiwari (15), and Ram Vilas Prajapati (17) were swept into deeper waters.

Upon receiving information, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha, Tarabganj Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Savita Shukla, and local MLA Prem Narayan Pandey immediately arrived at the scene. During a large-scale search operation launched by the administration, the body of Sumit Prajapati was recovered. The search for the remaining two youths, Abhishek Tiwari and Ram Vilas Prajapati, is still underway.

SP Abhishek Jha assured a thorough investigation into the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Heroic Rescue Ends in Tragedy at Dhanepur

The second heartbreaking incident occurred in the Kuano River at Bhaiswahwa Ghat in the Dhanepur police station area. During the immersion, three youths named Daddan, Prince, and Deepak were caught in the river's strong current.

Witnessing them drowning, Tularam Shukla (50), a resident of Shivbaksh Purwa Bihuri, bravely jumped into the river without regard for his own safety to save them. With the help of villagers, the three youths were safely pulled out. However, Tularam Shukla could not extricate himself from the powerful current and depth of the water and drowned.

Given the gravity of the situation, Circle Officer (CO) Sadar Abhishek Davachya, Sadar Tehsildar, and Dhanepur Station House Officer Vipul Pandey, along with a heavy police force, reached the spot. Special teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Flood PAC conducted a joint, extensive search operation. After considerable effort, the body of Tularam Shukla was recovered.

CO Sadar Abhishek Davachya confirmed the incident, stating that Tularam Shukla selflessly attempted to save others, sacrificing his own life in the process. The police have initiated necessary legal proceedings in this matter.

Administration on Alert, Re-evaluating Safety Standards

The four deaths during idol immersion in the district have compelled the administration to immediately reconsider safety standards. Strict instructions have been issued regarding crowd control at ghats and the necessary precautions to be taken. The local populace is in deep shock over these incidents, and administrative officials have assured the victims' families of all possible assistance.

Currently, a team of divers is actively searching the river in Tarabganj for the two missing youths. These incidents have once again highlighted the importance of security arrangements during festivals.