YOUTH COULD NOT BE FOUND EVEN AFTER 48 HOURS

YOUTH COULD NOT BE FOUND EVEN AFTER 48 HOURS

1-SEP-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA--------------------------The body of a youth who drowned in deep water while bathing and taking selfies at the Durgawati Reservoir—located within the jurisdiction of the Karamchat police station—has not yet been recovered by local divers or the SDRF team, even after 36 hours.

According to reports, Rohit Kumar (15), son of Mahendra Bind and a resident of Lohara village in the Chenari police station area of ​​Rohtas district, had visited the Durgawati Reservoir with four friends on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. While bathing and taking selfies, he ventured into deep water and suddenly drowned, disappearing beneath the surface. A search operation involving locals and divers was launched immediately after the incident but proved unsuccessful.

Upon receiving news of the accident, the administration and police swung into action. A search operation involving local divers began on Saturday morning. Later, given the gravity of the situation, an SDRF team from Bhojpur was summoned to the Karamchat Dam. SDRF personnel conducted a continuous search operation in the dam's deep waters for approximately six hours, yet the youth's body could not be recovered.

Throughout the search operation, Karamchat Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Kuma were also present at the scene.

A police team arrived at the site to assess the situation and oversaw the relief and rescue operations in coordination with the SDRF and local divers.

Large numbers of people frequently visit the Karamchat Dam for sightseeing and picnics. Visitor numbers surge significantly, especially during holidays and festivals. Consequently, questions are being raised regarding the need for safety measures and warning signs in areas with deep water.

Locals point out that there are several spots in the dam where the water's depth cannot be gauged from the outside. There is a need for adequate safety arrangements and monitoring, alongside restrictions preventing people from entering the water in such areas.

All eyes are now on when the body of Rohit Kumar, who went missing in the dam's deep waters, will be recovered. At the time of filing this report, the body had not yet been found, and the search operation was ongoing.