MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, September 2: A man from Gaya, Bihar, who had come to visit the Maa Chhinnamastika temple in Rajrappa, was swept away by the strong current of the Damodar River.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the devotee, identified as Kaushal Kumar, slipped into the river while washing his hands near the Bokaro-Ramgarh bridge. Despite efforts by locals and police, he remains missing.
Incident details and rescue efforts
Kaushal Kumar was part of a group of more than a dozen people from the Gaya district who had travelled by bus and four-wheelers to visit the Maa Chhinnamastika temple. After completing their worship, they began their journey back home.
Kaushal and another member of the group, Ankit Kumar Tanti, walked towards the riverbank. As Kaushal bent down to wash his hands in the Damodar River, his foot slipped, and he was swept away by the strong current.
Ankit Kumar attempted to save him but also started to drown. A shopkeeper on the riverbank managed to pull Ankit to safety but could not rescue Kaushal. The swift flow of the river quickly submerged Kaushal, and he disappeared from view.
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Search operations and official response
As the incident unfolded, the local community and Kaushal’s companions rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, there was no sign of the missing man.
Upon receiving the information, Sub-Inspector Amit from Gola police station arrived at the site and initiated a search operation with the help of local divers. However, the fast-moving water and the onset of darkness hampered their efforts, and Kaushal Kumar remained untraceable.
Ramgarh SP Ajay Kumar confirmed the incident, stating that Sub-Inspector Amit had led the search operation but was unable to locate Kaushal due to the challenging conditions of the river.
The police have notified prominent villagers along the riverbanks to keep an eye out for any signs of the missing man and to report any findings immediately. Kaushal Kumar was a resident near SP Kothi in Gaya district, Bihar.
The search operation is expected to continue as authorities remain hopeful of locating Kaushal Kumar. The community and local police are working together to ensure that every possible effort is made to find the missing devotee. The incident has left the visiting group and the local community in shock, highlighting the dangers of the swift currents of the Damodar River.
