Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Sep: The mortal remains of freelance journalist Rajiv Pratap were consigned to flames at Kedar Ghat today. It is also learnt that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a probe into the death of Pratap as he had promised. It may be recalled that the dead body of Pratap was recovered yesterday from Joshiyara Barrage in district Uttarkashi. Pratap had disappeared on the night of 18 September while travelling between Gangori and Garampani. His car was later found submerged in the Bhagirathi River near Syuna village, but he was not inside. Since then, the Police and the administration were continuously engaged in the search for Rajiv Pratap. This intensive multi-agency search operation culminated yesterday following the recovery of his body, around ten days after his disappearance.
According to Uttarkashi Police, Rajiv Pratap had left Gyansu for Gangori on the night of 18 September in a car belonging to his friend Soban Singh. When he failed to return by the next morning, Soban Singh alerted the police, prompting the launch of a search operation. On 19 September, the car was located in the middle of the Bhagirathi River near Syuna, but there was no trace of Pratap. His family subsequently lodged a missing person’s report at Nagar Kotwali, following which the police, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), began combing the river stretch. CCTV footage was examined, but no leads emerged from the footage.
Acting on instructions from the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, a coordinated search effort was undertaken by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, and Quick Response Team (QRT), covering the Bhagirathi River from Gangori to Chinyalisaur. After ten days of relentless search, a body was spotted floating in the lake at Joshiyara Barrage, yesterday. The rescue team retrieved the body and handed it over to the police, who conducted the panchnama and sent it to the District Hospital Uttarkashi for identification. The deceased was confirmed to be Rajiv Pratap by his family members.
The cremation was performed at Kedar Ghat today in the presence of grieving relatives and friends. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The CM had yesterday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the senior journalist and extended his condolences to the bereaved family. The Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari had also conveyed his heartfelt sympathies and expressed profound grief over the untimely passing of Rajiv Pratap.
