Two youths drown in W Champaran canal

Bettiah: Two young men drowned while bathing in a canal at Amwa Majhar panchayat in West Champaran district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Karan Kumar, 20, and Mitthu Kumar, 22, both residents of Bari Tola in Bettiah.

According to locals, the two had travelled to the Amwa Majhar barrage area in an e-rickshaw to take a bath in the canal. Several children were also bathing there when the incident occurred.

Eyewitnesses said one of the youths accidentally entered a deeper section of the canal and began drowning. In an attempt to save him, his companion jumped into the water. However, due to the depth of the canal, neither could return to safety and both drowned.

Amwa Majhar panchayat mukhiya Laldev Ram said, “A youth became a victim of the accident while trying to save the other.”

A team from Mufassil police station reached the spot and, with the help of locals, recovered the bodies. They were later sent to GMCH, Bettiah, for post-mortem examination.

Locals urged the administration to strengthen safety measures and install warning signboards at vulnerable spots along the canal to prevent similar incidents.