A joyous picnic along the scenic banks of the Kanhan River at Mahadev Ghat turned into a devastating tragedy for two families on Sunday afternoon. Three individuals, including a six-year-old boy, lost their lives after drowning in the river. The deceased have been identified as Gautam Ambade (31) and his nephew Chaitanya (6), both residents of Indiranagar, Jaripatka, along with Rohit Nagdevte (35), an e-rickshaw driver from Kumbhare Colony in Kamptee.
Sequence of Events
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 12:30 PM. Chaitanya, a kindergarten student, was part of a family group of 13 members who had come to the spot for a picnic. Nagdevte had led another family from Kamptee to the riverbank. While the adults from both families were busy preparing food, Chaitanya wandered away from his group, entered the river, and slipped into a deep water pit.
Rescue Attempts Turn Fatal
Gautam Ambade, who could not swim, jumped into the river in a desperate attempt to rescue his nephew but was caught in strong currents, police said. Nagdevte, who spotted the uncle-nephew duo struggling, rushed to their aid but also drowned in the process. Gautam's father, Rajkumar (55), made a valiant effort to save his son and grandson but managed to swim back to safety only with great difficulty.
Search and Recovery Operation
A police team from the Old Kamptee Police Station, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Manish Hiwarkar and Sub-Inspector Sagar Bhandari, arrived at the scene. The officers conducted extensive search operations in the water and recovered the bodies of all three victims. The police completed the necessary procedures and sent the bodies for autopsy. Sources confirmed that some Army personnel also assisted in the search operation.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of swimming in unsupervised natural water bodies, especially during picnics and outings.
