UP Officer Drowns as Diver Awaits Advance Payment to Save Him
A senior Uttar Pradesh official drowned after a rescue diver delayed action until he received online payment, leading to Singh's disappearance before the payment was confirmed.
A tragic incident took place at the Nanamau ghat on the banks of the river Ganga on August 31, 2024, where a senior Uttar Pradesh health department official drowned after a delay in the payment for a rescue operation.
Aditya Vardhan Singh, a 45-year-old deputy director from Lucknow, was at Nanamau ghat with friends for a bath in the river. While enjoying the moment, Singh ventured into deeper waters to take a selfie, ignoring warning signs and moving past a safety mark. Despite knowing how to swim, Singh was swept away by the strong current.
In a desperate bid to save him, Singh's friends sought the help of a local diver named Shailesh Kashyap, who was present at the ghat. Kashyap demanded ?10,000 for his services and insisted he would only dive in after receiving the payment.
Singh's friends, lacking cash on hand, quickly arranged for the amount through an online transfer. However, the delay in processing the payment meant that Kashyap waited for the confirmation from his bank. By the time the payment was confirmed, Singh had already disappeared under the water.
Despite the payment being confirmed, Kashyap could not find Singh and began searching the river. Meanwhile, senior district officials arrived at the scene and deployed additional divers and motorboats for a more extensive search. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate Singh or his body.
The search operation continues, but Singh’s friends believe that if Kashyap had acted immediately, Singh could have been rescued in time. This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety protocols and response times in emergency situations.
The district administration has promised a thorough investigation into the incident and is taking steps to ensure such delays do not occur in the future.
