Agovernment employeedrowned inIndiaafter adiverrefused to come to his rescue over money.Adityavardhan Singh, a deputy director of the statehealthdepartment, drowned in theGangariver while visiting theNanamau ghatin Bilhaur, Kanpur, on Saturday (August 31).
Singh’s friends, who had accompanied him, requested the help of adiverwho was present at the ghat (a series of steps leading down to a body of water) to rescue him.
HighlightsAdityavardhan Singh, a deputy director of the state health department, drowned in the Ganga river on August 31.The diver demanded 10,000 rupees ($119) and waited for an online payment before attempting to rescue Singh.Singh’s friends made online transfers, but the delay caused him to vanish in the water and drown.Despite receiving payment, diver Shailesh Kashyap was unsuccessful in finding Singh after he started searching.
However, the diver demanded 10,000 rupees (approximately $119) and said that he would jump into the river only after the money was paid, theDeccan Heraldreported on Sunday (September 1).
As the friends did not have cash, they reportedly made online transfers ofmoney. The diver, identified as Shailesh Kashyap, subsequently waited for the confirmation of online payment.
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A government employee drowned in India while the rescue diver waited to be paid before attempting to save him
Image credits:LokmatHindi
But it was too late for Singh, who consequently vanished in the water and tragically drowned. Kashyap reportedly started searching for Singh after receiving the money.
Thegreedydiver was unsuccessful in finding the official. Singh’s friends said that had Kashyap jumped into the river immediately, the victim could have been saved, theDeccan Heraldreported.
The diver refused to come to his rescue until the transaction went through
Image credits:Google Maps
Moreover, Singh was taking a selfie when he accidentally slipped, according to theDeccan Herald.Senior district officials reportedly rushed to the spot where the incident took place.
Divers and motorboats were subsequently pressed into service to trace Singh’s body, but it could not be found.
An uproar in the area was unveiled shortly after Singh’sfamilylearned about their loved one’s fate. One of the official’s cousins is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer of the Bihar cadre, and the deceased’s wife, Shreya Mishra, is posted as a judge in the Akola district of Maharashtra.
Adityavardhan Singh was a deputy director of the state health department
Image credits:Senanur Ceylan (not the actual photo)
As many as 75 police officers have been reportedly deployed. Additionally, divers have also been engaged in the search as rescue teams, looking within a radius of 30 kilometers.
An estimated 38,000 people die every year from drowning inIndia,with a majority of those who have died due to drowning identified in the age group of five to 14 years.
He drowned in the Ganga river while visiting the Nanamau ghat in Kanpur on Saturday (August 31)
Image credits:pujayagna
Despite the alarming statistic, India does not have legislation on drowning, and policies on drowning are not updated, theNew Indian Expressreported in December 2023.
While swimming is a skill that can save lives, it is sometimes not enough to avoid a fatal accident when caught in rip currents, which are often difficult to spot until it’s too late.
When caught in a rip, theRoyal National Lifeboat Institutionrecommends the following: Don’t try to swim against it, or you’ll get exhausted. If you can stand, wade, don’t swim. If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore. Finally, always raise your hand and shout for help.
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