In a harrowing late-night incident in Pilibhit, four young friends had a miraculous escape after their car drove straight into the Sharda River. The accident, caused by extremely dense fog, occurred around 11:50 PM on Friday. Their lives were saved thanks to the swift action of a contractual sailor and local sadhus residing along the riverbank.
The Fateful Drive and Terrifying Plunge
The four friends, all aged between 22 and 25 years, were returning home to Pilibhit's Shanti Nagar village. Their journey took a terrifying turn under the Hajara police station area. According to police, dense fog severely impaired visibility, leading the driver to miss the bridge and plunge directly into the cold waters of the Sharda River.
As the vehicle sank, water began rushing into the car. Showing remarkable presence of mind, the four occupants managed to climb out through the windows and onto the car's roof. Stranded in the dark, flowing river, they started screaming for help at the top of their lungs, hoping someone would hear their desperate cries.
The Heroic River Rescue
Their shouts were answered by 45-year-old contractual sailor Bablu Majhi and a few sadhus who live near the river. Hearing the commotion, they immediately rushed to the scene. Bablu Majhi, who works as a boatman on that very riverbank, used his expertise and local knowledge to orchestrate the rescue operation, pulling the four terrified young men to safety.
Station House Officer (SHO) of Hajara, Sharad Yadav, identified the rescued individuals as Abhishek Kumar, Arjun Gupta, Aditya Verma, and Anant Raghuvanshi. All four were fortunate to escape with their lives and did not sustain major injuries.
A Local Hero with a History of Saving Lives
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the Puranpur circle, Ajit Pratap Singh, publicly praised Bablu Majhi for his courageous act. He revealed that this was not the first time Majhi had risked his life for others. In the past, the brave boatman has saved at least 25 people from drowning in the Sharda River, cementing his status as a local hero.
On Saturday, the day after the accident, the authorities retrieved the submerged car from the river using a crane. The incident highlights the severe dangers posed by dense fog, especially near water bodies and bridges, during the winter nights in North India.
This narrow escape in Pilibhit serves as a stark reminder for drivers to exercise extreme caution during foggy conditions and underscores the invaluable role played by alert local communities and individuals like Bablu Majhi in preventing tragedies.
