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UP Water Tank Tragedy: One Child Dead, IAF Rescues Two Stranded

One child died and two others were injured after five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel and the stairs collapsed in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Two children remained stranded on the tank and were rescued in a joint operation involving the fire department and the Indian Air Force. An IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter airlifted the stranded children due to difficult terrain and poor road access. The rescue operation was coordinated with the Chief Minister's office and state administration, with the children safely returned to their parents.

Key Points: UP Water Tank Accident: Child Dead, IAF Helicopter Rescue

  • One child died, two injured after water tank stairs collapse
  • Two children stranded atop tank rescued by IAF helicopter
  • Joint operation by fire department, air force, and state administration
  • Children climbed tank to record a reel when accident occurred
3 min read

UP water tank accident: One child dead, two injured; IAF helicopter rescues stranded children

One child died, two injured after water tank stairs collapse in Siddharthnagar. IAF helicopter rescues two stranded children in joint operation.

"One child died, and two others are being treated at the medical college. - District Magistrate Shivsharanappa"

Siddharthnagar, May 3

One child died, and two others were injured after a group of five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel, and the stairs collapsed, officials said on Sunday.

District Magistrate of Siddharthnagar Shivsharanappa told ANI that while three children fell from the structure, two remained stranded and were later rescued in a joint operation involving the fire department and the Indian Air Force, which airlifted them using a helicopter due to difficult terrain and poor road access.

"An incident occurred when five children climbed atop a water tank to record a reel, and when the stairs broke, three of them fell from the water tank. One child died, and two others are being treated at the medical college," the District Magistrate said.

He further explained the rescue efforts for the two children stranded on the tank. "For the rescue operation of the two children who were still atop the tank, we first called a fire engine from Gorakhpur. Because the soil was very muddy and the road wasn't properly built, we consulted with the Air Force officer in Gorakhpur as part of Plan B. They dispatched a helicopter around 5 AM this morning, and the two children were safely rescued and sent to their parents' home. We thank the Chief Minister's office, whose coordination provided the Air Force and ensured the successful, quick operation," Shivsharanappa added.

Children who had been stranded for a day at a water tank were rescued by an Air Force helicopter following the coordinated operation, officials added.

Earlier today, DM Shivsharanappa informed that the rescue operation was carried out in close coordination with the Air Force and the state administration, with continuous communication maintained throughout the planning phase.

According to the IAF's Central Air Command (CAC), the operation was launched following a request from state government authorities after the children got stuck on top of the structure due to damage to the access ladder.

In a post on X, CAC, IAF wrote, "On a request from state government authorities, an IAF Mi-17 V5 of Central Air Command (CAC) was deployed to rescue two stranded children, who were stuck on top of a water tank in Sidharth Nagar in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The children were stranded in the night as the ladder of the water tank was damaged. The rescue mission, yet again, displays the IAF's professionalism and commitment to save lives with a swift response in times of need."

Officials confirmed that two other children who were safely rescued are being treated at the medical college. Further details are awaited.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The IAF helicopter rescue is the only silver lining in this whole tragedy. 🇮🇳 But seriously, parents and schools need to teach children about dangers of climbing structures. Rampant reel-making culture is putting our kids in unnecessary danger. One child dead is one too many.
A
Arun Y
Poor kids. The water tank stairs collapse and the road is too muddy for fire engines? This is a classic case of infrastructure neglect meeting social media stupidity. While I appreciate the CM's office coordination for the helicopter, I wish we had proper roads and safe public structures in the first place.
K
Kavya N
So tragic and avoidable. The grown-ups in the village should have ensured the tank was locked or the ladder was secure. Children will be children, but we adults need to think of safety. IAF did a remarkable job though. Hope the injured kids recover completely.
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Ramesh W
A tragic but heroic ending. The IAF Mi-17 V5 rescue operation speaks volumes about our armed forces' dedication. But let's not gloss over the real issue - why are our children so obsessed with making reels that they risk their lives? Social media companies need to promote safety education. Also, the panchayat must ensure water tanks have safe access.
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Naveen S
The coordination between DM, fire department, and IAF is commendable. However, the fact that it took a helicopter to rescue two kids because the road was too muddy for a fire engine tells you everything about rural infrastructure in UP. We need better roads and safer public utilities. CM Yogi ji should take note.

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