By Our Staff Reporter
Haridwar, 25 Dec: In a tragic incident this morning at Santmat Ghat here, two children of a family hailing from Gujarat drowned while bathing in the Ganga. The family, residents of Bajipura village under Valod police station in Tapi district, had come to Haridwar for Ganga darshan and bathing.
Around 10 a.m. today, while bathing at Santmat Ghat near Parmarth Ghat, Vipul Bhai Pawar’s 13-year-old daughter Pratyusha and 6-year-old son Darsh were swept away by the strong current of the Ganga River. Despite efforts from the family and other devotees present at the ghat, they were unable to save the children due to the deep water and swift current. The children soon disappeared from sight.
Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team from Saptarishi police station arrived at the scene. With the assistance of water police and divers, the children were found unconscious near Thokar number 13 and were immediately taken to Haridwar District Hospital with the help of a 108 ambulance. However, the doctors declared both the siblings as brought dead.
Haridwar SP City Pankaj Gairola stated that the family, present at the time of the accident, tried their best to save the children but were unsuccessful. The bodies have been kept safe for post-mortem examination. The incident has left the family devastated, and other devotees at the ghat also mourned the untimely death of the innocent children. The incident has also raised questions about the safety of pilgrims, especially children while bathing at various ghats in Haridwar. Why the water police had not been deputed at the Santmat Ghat is a question being asked. Had the police and trained rescuers been deputed at all the ghats where bathing in Ganga is common, such a tragedy could have been avoided.
