Patna: Three young men drowned in the Ganga river near Malahi Diara in Patna on Sunday morning after being swept away by strong currents while bathing, local officials confirmed.
The victims—Niranjan Kumar (22), Dheeraj Kumar (24), and Sonu Kumar (25)—were residents of Shah Salempur village in the Barh police station area. They had reportedly gone to the riverbank after a morning exercise session, part of their preparation for recruitment into the Bihar Home Guard.
Two others in the group, Naveen Kumar and Jitendra Kumar, were rescued by a bystander, Shrimal Yadav, who jumped into the water upon witnessing the incident.
Authorities were alerted around 8am, said Narendra Kumar Singh, the local Circle Officer. A joint rescue operation involving divers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) led to the recovery of all three bodies. “We urge residents to avoid non-designated ghats, especially areas in the mainstream of the Ganga, where strong undercurrents and deep water pose serious risks,” Singh said.
The site of the incident lies in a stretch of the river frequented by large NTPC vessels, contributing to hazardous conditions.
Following the tragedy, tensions flared in the area as grieving villagers blocked National Highway 31 near Jalgovind village to protest perceived negligence. The blockade was lifted after police intervention and discussions with the agitated crowd.
This marks the second such incident in the region in recent days. In a similar case in Mokama block, eight young men from the same locality entered the Ganga to bathe, resulting in three deaths and five rescues
