Patna: Patna police and the disaster response teams have launched a major search operation after an 18-year-old man allegedly jumped into river Ganga from the Mahatma Gandhi Setu bridge on Thursday afternoon.
The teenager, identified as Aditya Kumar from Jadhua in Hajipur, is believed to have leapt into the river near pillar number 43 of the bridge, according to local authorities.
Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the incident. Rescue teams from Hajipur and Gaighat have been deployed, with boats conducting continuous searches along the river.
Pawanesh Kumar, the SDRF officer in charge at Gaighat, said two teams were engaged in the operation immediately after the alert was received.
“Search efforts are under way with the help of multiple boats and rescue personnel,” he said.
The incident drew large crowds to the bridge and surrounding riverbank areas as emergency services continued the search late into the day.
Family members of the missing teenager also arrived at Gaighat following news of the incident. Aditya’s elder brother, Aniket, said the teenager had left home earlier in the day after telling relatives he was going out for lunch following work. According to the family, Aditya was learning electrical work. He had left home on his bicycle.
Authorities said the circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear. Alamganj police station officials confirmed that an investigation was under way alongside the rescue operation.
