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Six Drown in Ganga During Ritual in UP's Ballia; CM Orders Rescue

Six people, including four teenage girls, drowned in the Ganga River at Shivrampur Ghat in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, during a ritual ceremony. Two youths drowned while attempting to rescue the girls. Search operations are underway with local fishermen, fire brigade, and SDRF teams. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered immediate relief and rescue efforts.

Key Points: Six drown in Ganga at UP's Ballia during ritual

  • Six drown in Ganga at Ballia's Shivrampur Ghat
  • Four teenage girls among victims
  • Two youths drowned while attempting rescue
  • CM Yogi Adityanath orders immediate rescue operations
2 min read

Six drown in Ganga at UP's Ballia during ritual, CM orders swift rescue operations

Six people, including four teenage girls, drowned in the Ganga River in Ballia during a ritual. CM Yogi Adityanath ordered swift rescue operations.

"Four of them are being found with the help of local fishermen and fire brigades. - DSP Muhammad Usman"

New Delhi, May 3

A tragic incident unfolded at Shivrampur Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district on Sunday morning as six people, including four teenage girls, drowned in the Ganga River during a ritual ceremony.

According to officials, the victims had come to the ghat for a ritual. During bathing in the river, four of them reportedly began to drown. In an attempt to rescue them, two youths jumped into the water but were also swept away.

Police confirmed that two of the girls were rescued, while other bodies remain missing. Search operations are currently underway with the help of local fishermen, fire brigade teams, and divers.

Providing details, Deputy Superintendent of Police Muhammad Usman said: "At around 7.30 a.m., four people were bathing on the Shivrampur bank of Kotwali police station. One of them slipped, and three others came forward to save him. Four of them drowned. Four of them are being found with the help of local fishermen and fire brigades. Apart from this, the SDRF team is also coming from Gorakhpur. The situation is stable at the moment."

The incident has triggered a large-scale rescue operation, with teams intensifying efforts to trace the missing individuals. Authorities said the SDRF team from Gorakhpur is also being deployed to assist in the search.

Taking cognisance of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to reach the spot immediately and expedite relief and rescue work. He also instructed authorities to ensure that all possible measures are taken to locate the missing persons at the earliest.

According to local sources, the victims belonged to a family from Kalyanipur village under the Fefna police station area, who had gathered at the ghat for the ceremony.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom in the region, as anxious family members and locals continue to wait for updates while rescue teams work against time in the strong currents of the Ganga.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Heartbreaking to hear about the teenage girls. 💔 This is a reminder that even sacred rivers can be treacherous. The rescue teams are doing their best but local fishermen risking their lives to help shows the community spirit. CM Yogi's quick action is appreciated but I hope this leads to permanent safety infrastructure at bathing ghats.
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Vikram M
So tragic that two youths died trying to save others. Selfless act but heartbreaking result. The authorities should have had safety arrangements beforehand. These rituals happen every year, yet accidents keep occurring. High time district administrations identify dangerous spots and deploy lifeguards. Our prayers are with the families. 🕯️
M
Michael C
Terrible loss of life. I've visited Ballia and the Ganga there can be calm in some spots but dangerous in others. It's good that rescue operations are swift but prevention should be the priority. Perhaps local authorities could install warning signs and barriers during peak ritual seasons.
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Sneha F
Such a painful incident. 😢 The fact that these were families from a village doing a simple ceremony makes it even more tragic. While I appreciate CM Yogi's orders, I wish there was more proactive planning - people shouldn't have to depend on fishermen and fire brigade to save lives. Safety should be built into these religious events. May the departed souls rest in peace. 🌺
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Rohit L
Shocking but not surprising - every year we hear similar stories from different ghats. The CM's quick response is fine but we need systemic change. The UP government should map all dangerous spots and create a 'safe bathing' protocol with

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