In a heartrending incident in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, the pursuit of respite from the scorching sun led to an unimaginable tragedy. Three friends ventured into the waters of the Rapti River, not to return again. Their lifeless bodies were eventually retrieved amid the anxious crowds by a diligent team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) alongside seasoned divers. The police promptly took custody of the bodies for autopsy and later handed them over to the bereaved families.
The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Chiluatal police station. Troubled waters took them by surprise as they ventured too deep while bathing. Onlookers, witnessing the unfolding horror, sounded the alarm, gathering a crowd from the village, who then alerted the SDRF, divers, and police.
A relative to a former minister among the deceased
Among the deceased was Utkarsh Singh, identified as the nephew of Devnarayan Singh, also known as GM Singh. A respected figure hailing from Sahjanwa, GM Singh has served as the area's MLA twice and was a minister during the BSP administration. He is currently a member of the BJP and is considered a formidable leader in the region. This tragedy follows a period of trouble for GM Singh. Just days earlier, his son was arrested and jailed for using a counterfeit pass to impersonate a legislator.
Police Superintendent's Statement on the Tragedy
Police Superintendent North, Jitendra Kumar Srivastava reported that upon immediate notification of the incident, police response was swift. With the aid of local citizens and divers, a search was conducted and the three bodies were recovered. The deceased have now been returned to their families, and further investigation into the matter is underway.
