Two bikers who fell in Narmada canal presumed dead

Vadodara: Two youth who had fallen in Narmada canal near Bhimpura village on the outskirts of the city were still missing and the Vadodara rural police have presumed them dead.

Firemen and personnel from National Disaster Response Force searched for the body on Tuesday too but could not get any leads about Vaibhav Valand and Gopal Parmar.

Police have, however, registered an offence of rash driving and causing death due to negligence against Valand. Interestingly, cops have made Valand’s elder brother Amit a complainant in the case.

On being asked how the duo was presumed dead, police said that the third rider who was rescued had seen them drowning. “The 16-year-old boy Laxman Parmar had seen the duo drowning in the strong currents of water so we have registered the case accordingly,” said senior sub-inspector P J Kharsan of Vadodara Taluka police station. Normally, police do not register a case until the body is found. Cops wait for the evidence in the form of mortal remains for the death of person to register either an accidental death case or any other body-related offence.

Valand, Gopal and Laxman had fallen in the canal on Monday early morning while on their way to Gorwa BIDC on a bike. Laxman was saved as he was rescued by a passer-by, but the two others were dragged away in the water. Fire department had fished out the bike but could not find Valand and Gopal.