A 16-year-old boy has died and another remains missing after being swept away in the Pabbar River in Rohru, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the incident occurred on Tuesday evening when the two teenagers, Shiven Roshan, 16, son of Shishu Pal, and Saksham, 16, son of Rajdev, both residents of Karasa and Banoti villages respectively in Rohru, were returning home from Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Rohru. The boys reportedly decided to swim in the river, ventured into deep waters, and were subsequently washed away.
Local residents alerted authorities immediately after the mishap, prompting a swift response from the police and the district administration. Upon arriving at the scene, the rescue teams found the boys’ clothes and shoes on the riverbank, indicating the location where they entered the water. A search and rescue operation was initiated without delay to locate the missing boys. However, the operation had to be suspended during the night due to low visibility and challenging conditions.
The search efforts resumed with renewed vigour early Wednesday morning. To augment the existing resources and enhance the chances of a successful recovery, a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was summoned from Shimla. The NDRF team joined the local administration and police in the extensive search operation along the river. During the course of the operation, the rescue teams tragically discovered the body of Shiven Roshan in the river.
Following the recovery of the body, it was transported to the Civil Hospital in Rohru for a post-mortem examination. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Rohru, Dharmesh Kumar, stated that the operation to find the second missing boy, Saksham, was ongoing with significant efforts being deployed.
The Pabbar River, a tributary of the Tons River which itself is a tributary of the Yamuna, flows through the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. The region is known for its scenic beauty but also presents natural hazards, particularly during the monsoon season when river currents can become treacherous. Incidents of drowning in local rivers are not uncommon in the state, often highlighting the risks taken by individuals, especially young people, near fast-flowing water bodies.
Local authorities have frequently issued warnings about the dangers of swimming or venturing into rivers during periods of high water flow or in areas with strong currents. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the unpredictable nature of such water bodies and the critical importance of heeding safety advisories. The community in Rohru is in mourning following the tragic loss of a young life and is anxiously awaiting news regarding the fate of the second boy.
The search for Saksham is expected to continue with the full involvement of the NDRF and local administration, employing all available resources and techniques to locate him. The authorities are focusing on covering more downstream areas of the Pabbar River, considering the strong currents that may have carried the missing boy further from the initial site of the incident. The primary aim remains the safe recovery of the missing teenager.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
