In Kanpur, the Deputy Director of the UP Health Department tragically drowned in the Ganges. As he was struggling in the river, the divers demanded 10,000 rupees to save him. By the time the money was transferred online, he was already submerged. This incident raises questions about the preparedness and morality of both the friends and the rescue services present. Despite being a high-ranking official with his wife as a judge and his cousin as the secretary to the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, his friend did not have 10,000 rupees in cash. Critics are questioning the administration's apathy, arguing that if such an incident can happen to a prominent official, what hope is there for the common people? It emphasizes the need for the administration to station divers at such vulnerable spots to prevent future tragedies.
Incident at Nana Mau Ghat
On Saturday, Aditya Vardhan Singh, the Deputy Director of the UP Health Department from Unnao, along with his friend Pradeep Tiwari, went to bathe in the Ganges at Nana Mau Ghat in Kanpur. Aditya's wife Shailja Mishra is a judge in Maharashtra, and his cousin Anupam Singh is a senior IAS officer and the secretary to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. His friends reported that while taking photos, he unexpectedly stepped into a pit in the river and began to drown.
Also Read: Divers Demanded Money as Deputy Director Drowns in Ganges!
Divers Refused to Act Without Prior Payment
As Aditya started to drown, his friends immediately called upon the divers standing nearby. However, the divers insisted on receiving 10,000 rupees first. The friends assured them they would transfer the money online, but the divers demanded an immediate transfer to the account of the nearby shopkeeper, Shailesh Kashyap. Only after transferring 10,000 rupees did the divers move to rescue, but by then, Aditya was lost.
Both the police administration and the SDRF team arrived on the scene to search for Aditya. Despite efforts going into the night, his body was not found. During this time, the local village head also arrived. Shailesh Gautam, the shopkeeper who received the money, stated that since the divers did not have an account, they used his. He claimed to have returned the money.
The ADCP of the area, Brijendra Dwivedi, mentioned that the police responded as soon as they received the drowning report. They searched until late at night without success. Another search operation began the next morning. The incident has sparked local outrage, questioning the police administration’s negligence in ensuring the presence of divers at such critical spots.
Family Abroad
Aditya's sister and parents are currently residing abroad. His brother, Anupam Singh, has arrived from Bihar, while his wife is expected to reach on Monday. Aditya was a resident of Indira Nagar in Lucknow.
