4, including 3 kids, drown in Uttar Pradesh rivers

AGRA/MEERUT: Three kids drowned while bathing in the Garrah river in Shahjahanpur on Saturday.

The incident came as another death was reported in the Ganga canal in Muzaffarnagar. Sonu, 35, drowned while bathing there on Saturday, the fourth victim in the canal in six days.

In Shahjahanpur, the victims were identified as Shivam (10), Harendra (12), siblings, and their cousin Sheeshpal (12). According to circle officer (Sadar), Amit Kumar Chaurasia, the children went to the river to bathe due to severe heat.

He said, "As they didn't return home, the family initiated a search and eventually reached the riverbank. According to the family, the children left the house around 10:30 am, and their bodies were recovered by villagers around 1 pm with the help of divers. Prima facie, it seems they lost their footing, leading to drowning in strong current."

"The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Further probe is underway," he added. Prior to Saturday's incident, two boys, aged nine and 13, had drowned in the Ganga canal in Muzaffarnagar last Sunday and another 12-year-old boy met a similar fate while bathing there a day later.

According to locals, the newly- constructed bridge over the Ganga has become a frequent spot for people to jump in for a bath. Despite numerous past incidents of drowning and police interventions, people continue to bathe in the river at the risk of their lives, they added.