Hooghly, 15 May (H.S.): A 24-year-old youth is feared to have drowned in the Ganga while bathing at Mahesh Jagannath Ghat, popularly known as Lakkhi Ghat, in Serampore area of Hooghly district on Thursday afternoon.

On information, the police from Serampore Police Station rushed to the spot and launched a search operation with the help of divers. However, the youth could not be traced till Thursday evening, following which the search resumed again on Friday. Till the filing of this news, the operation was still underway.

Local councillor Shanta Ganguly also visited the spot after learning about the incident.

According to local residents, the missing youth has been identified as Satyam Shaw, a resident of Ward No. 21 under Serampore Municipality.

Family members of the youth were seen in a state of deep distress at the ghat. Satyam’s father, Sanjay Prasad Shaw, said his son’s bicycle was found near the ghat, while a local boatman reportedly saw him drowning in the river.

Locals alleged that drowning incidents occur frequently at the ghat and demanded that the administration take proper safety measures to prevent such tragedies in future.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey