Agra,

03 Oct (HS): Men and women from Kusiyapur village, Khairagarh police station,

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, had gone to the banks of the Uttang River near Dungarwala

village, Khairagarh police station, Agra, to immerse the Durga idol. During the

idol immersion, a dozen people were swept away in the river. Three of them drowned

and died, while another one was rescued. The rescue team is still searching for

the remaining eight people.

Villagers

said that Ompal, son of Ramesh Chandra, age about 25 years, Harish, age about

20 years, son of Yadav Singh, Gagan, age about 24 years, son of Yadav Singh,

Abhishek, age about 16 years, son of Kumar Raj, Bhagwati, age about 22 years,

son of Murari Lal, Okendra, age about 16 years, son of Kishan Singh, Sachin,

age about 16 years, son of Ramveer, Sachin, age about 17 years, son of Antaro,

Vishnu, age about 20 years, son of Ramu, Gajendra, age about 20 years, son of

Revati, Sukkan's son, age 20 years, who had gone to immerse the Durga idol in

the village, drowned in the strong current of the river while going inside the

Uttang River. Upon receiving information, the police reached the spot and with

the help of divers and local people, three youths Ompal, Gagan, Vishnu were

taken out of the river and sent to SN Medical College for treatment, where

Ompal and Gagan died during treatment and Vishnu is undergoing treatment.

During the rescue operation by PSC divers at around 8:30 pm, the body of

another man, a 20-year-old man, son of Ramnivas, a resident of Kusiyapura

village, was recovered from the river and sent to SN Medical College, Agra for

a post-mortem. This brings the death toll in the incident to three. Police are

continuing to search for the other eight men who drowned.

Villagers

and the victims' families blocked the road at the Ootgiri intersection around

6:30 p.m., demanding an immediate search for the youths who had been swept

away. The blockade was lifted around 8:15 p.m. upon receiving information that

the PAC diving team had arrived at the scene. A search operation by the local

police and the PAC diving team is underway to locate the remaining drowned

youths.

At

the time of writing news, Khairagarh MLA Bhagwan Kushwaha, Khairagarh Chairman

Sudhir Garg, Agra Police Commissioner, Additional Agra Police Commissioner,

Agra DM, Agra DCP West, Khairagarh ACP, and police from nearby police stations

were present at the scene until early morning. Currently, the search for those

who drowned in the river is underway in the presence of police. Uttar Pradesh

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed deep condolences over the Agra

incident and directed all possible assistance to the affected families.

District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa Bangari stated that financial assistance of

four lakh rupees each is being provided to the families of the deceased.

Furthermore, any possible assistance will be provided.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi