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In a tragic incident, four persons drowned in the river Saryu at Rameshwaram in Pithoragarh early on Sunday morning while they were taking a dip in the river. The incident took place at the confluence of rivers Saryu and Ramganga at Rameshwram.
“All of the victims belonged to Chandak, Pithoragarh,” said the district disaster management officials. Considering the gravity of the situation, local administration launched a massive rescue operation to trace the victims but the bodies are yet to be recovered.
“As many as five rescue teams have been deployed on both sides of the river,” said R S Rana, district disaster management officer, Pithoragarh, while talking to The Pioneer.
Rescue teams have been drawn from different security agencies including the disaster management, the local police, the ITBP, the revenue department, he informed. According to investigations by rescue officials, the victims had come to visit a temple at Rameshwaram early on Sunday morning. “Before visiting the temple it seems the deceased had gone to take a dip in the river when this accident took place,” added Rana.
Though the flow of the river was relatively weak following departure of the monsoon season, there has been no success in rescue operation so far, added Rana.
The deceased have been identified as Mahipal Sinigh, 48, son of Mahender Singh; Sanjay Singh, Shankar Singh, 18, Har Singh, 36, son of Sher Singh, residents of Chandak, Pithoragarh.
With the river traversing quite a distance from the incident site at Rameshwar up to Pancheswar, we have launched rescue operation up to Pancheswar where the Saryu river meets the Mahakali river, Rana added.
Since water volume of rivers at confluence sites remain high at this time of the year, it seems the deceased could not tackle the flow of stream.
Moreover, the hilly terrain makes it worse particularly for those who do not know swimming.
“All of the victims belonged to Chandak, Pithoragarh,” said the district disaster management officials. Considering the gravity of the situation, local administration launched a massive rescue operation to trace the victims but the bodies are yet to be recovered.
“As many as five rescue teams have been deployed on both sides of the river,” said R S Rana, district disaster management officer, Pithoragarh, while talking to The Pioneer.
Rescue teams have been drawn from different security agencies including the disaster management, the local police, the ITBP, the revenue department, he informed. According to investigations by rescue officials, the victims had come to visit a temple at Rameshwaram early on Sunday morning. “Before visiting the temple it seems the deceased had gone to take a dip in the river when this accident took place,” added Rana.
Though the flow of the river was relatively weak following departure of the monsoon season, there has been no success in rescue operation so far, added Rana.
The deceased have been identified as Mahipal Sinigh, 48, son of Mahender Singh; Sanjay Singh, Shankar Singh, 18, Har Singh, 36, son of Sher Singh, residents of Chandak, Pithoragarh.
With the river traversing quite a distance from the incident site at Rameshwar up to Pancheswar, we have launched rescue operation up to Pancheswar where the Saryu river meets the Mahakali river, Rana added.
Since water volume of rivers at confluence sites remain high at this time of the year, it seems the deceased could not tackle the flow of stream.
Moreover, the hilly terrain makes it worse particularly for those who do not know swimming.
