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RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Following the drowning deaths of two youths at the Chher River diversion in Rudranagar (under the Shahpur police station area of ​​Bhojpur district), angry villagers blocked the Ara-Buxar road (NH-84) on Wednesday. Traffic came to a complete standstill as numerous villagers—including Shivprasanna Yadav, Ward Councilor Manoj Paswan, former Deputy Chief Councilor Md. Mukhtar Shah, Santosh Yadav, Satyendra Yadav, and Jitendra Ravani—took to the streets.

Former MLA Rahul Tiwari arrived at the scene, expressed grief over the incident, and questioned the administration's handling of the situation.

The former MLA noted that both youths who lost their lives belonged to poor families. Despite this, the bodies were sent for post-mortem in a tempo, and the families had to bear the transportation costs themselves. He pointed out that no safety barricading had been installed around the Chher River diversion. He argued that the administration should have shown sensitivity given the magnitude of the tragedy.

He further stated that although the Jagdishpur SDM had arrived in Bihiya after being informed of the accident, the fact that the SDM did not visit the actual accident site caused resentment among the villagers. He emphasized that this is a serious and sensitive matter. The administration needs to take the issues and safety of the public seriously. Rahul Tiwari stated that Sachin Ravani, who lost his life in the accident, was his parents' only son and the family's primary breadwinner; the government should provide adequate compensation to his family.

The former MLA also demanded appropriate financial assistance for the family of Sandeep Kumar, whose body was recovered from the Cher River after approximately 18 hours. According to reports, the deceased was Sandeep Ravani (20), son of Anil Ravani—a resident of Shobhi Tola, Ward No. 1, Shahpur Nagar (under the Shahpur police station area). He used to work in the scrap business alongside his father.

It is worth noting that on Tuesday afternoon, Sandeep Ravani, accompanied by his friends Sachin Kumar Ram and Krishna Yadav, had gone on a motorcycle to the Shahpur-Banahi road—near the diversion at the Cher River in Rudra Nagar—to view the floodwaters. While there, the strong current swept all three of them, along with their motorcycle, into the Cher River. At that time, with the help of locals, Krishna Yadav (son of Ganga Yadav, a resident of Shobhi Tola, Ward No. 1) was rescued and subsequently treated at Shahpur Hospital. Meanwhile, the body of Sachin Kumar Ram (son of Jitendra Ram, also a resident of Shobhi Tola, Ward No. 1) was recovered on Tuesday evening with the assistance of local divers.

Protecting the lives of citizens and safeguarding their rights is the administration's paramount duty. However, according to the former MLA, the accident at the Rudra Nagar Cher River diversion has raised serious questions regarding the functioning, sensitivity, and accountability of the administrative machinery. Following the drowning deaths of the two youths near the Cher River bridge, the administration's irresponsible This attitude serves as clear evidence of how the system has strayed from its fundamental responsibilities.

The facts that emerged following the incident are deeply distressing and condemnable. The failure of the Jagdishpur SDM to reach the site—despite being informed of the drowning and residing within the Bihiya block—reflects profound apathy. The lack of resources (such as fuel) available to a crucial unit like the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), coupled with local citizens having to search for the body on their own, exposes the hollowness of the administrative system. Even more shocking to human sensibilities was the fact that, after the child's body was recovered, not even an ambulance was provided to transport it to the Sadar Hospital, forcing the grieving family to carry the body in an auto-rickshaw (tempo).