A tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening when a 20-year-old man from Almora was swept away by the strong currents of the Ganga river while bathing near Hilton Rapid in the Lakshman Jhula area of Rishikesh. The victim had entered a restricted ghat area along with a friend, which led to the mishap.
Victim Identified
The missing individual has been identified as Harshit Upadhyay, a resident of Bhikiyasen in Almora district. He was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at a Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Vrindavan, Mathura, and had traveled to Rishikesh to attend a religious discourse (katha) at Sita Ram Ashram.
Search Operation Underway
Upon receiving information about the incident, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) initiated a search operation in coordination with the local police. Kavindra Sajwan, the local SDRF in-charge, stated, "Soon after receiving the information, teams rushed to the spot and deep divers launched a search operation, but failed to trace him." The search efforts are continuing, but as of now, no trace of the young man has been found.
This incident highlights the dangers of venturing into restricted and dangerous areas along the river, especially during periods of strong currents. Authorities have urged visitors to adhere to safety guidelines and avoid bathing in prohibited zones.
