Two students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district were found dead after allegedly drowning in a pond located within the school campus, triggering serious concerns over safety and supervision at the fully residential institution.

The victims have been identified as Pragyan Vimal (15), a Class 10 student, and Roshan Baretha (14), who studied in Class 9. While Pragyan's body was recovered floating in the pond early Tuesday morning, Roshan's body was found nearly 21 hours after the incident following an extensive search operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local divers.

Students Went Missing from Hostel

According to police, both students went missing from their hostel on Monday evening. When they failed to return to their rooms, school authorities informed the police.

A search operation was immediately launched by the Ghatia police. Officers examined CCTV footage from the campus and questioned fellow students, but no trace of the boys was found during the night.

The search resumed on Tuesday morning after information was received about a body floating in a pond situated near the school's boundary.

Bodies Recovered During Rescue Operation

At around 6 a.m., villagers alerted authorities after spotting a body floating in the pond. The body was recovered and identified as Pragyan Vimal. His remains were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem examination.

The search for Roshan continued throughout the day. SDRF personnel, assisted by local divers, eventually recovered his body approximately 21 hours after the incident. Both bodies have been shifted to the mortuary and will be handed over to their families after post-mortem formalities.

Safety Measures Under Scrutiny

The incident has raised questions over the security arrangements at the residential school. Authorities are investigating how two minor students managed to leave their hostel rooms unnoticed during the night.

Family members and local residents have alleged lapses in night roll-call procedures, hostel supervision, and campus security. They have demanded accountability if negligence by the school administration is established.

Police officials said further action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem reports and the ongoing investigation. If any negligence on the part of the school management is confirmed, legal action will be initiated against those responsible.

Family Mourns Personal Loss

Pragyan Vimal's death has deeply affected his family. He was the only brother among three sisters and had lost both his parents earlier. Following his father's death, his elder sister received a compassionate government appointment and had been supporting his education while he studied at the Navodaya school.

Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic deaths.

Students from GRMC went into restricted area; search resumed at dawn

 Rescue teams recovered the body of one MBBS student late Saturday night and continued searching on Sunday for his friend after both reportedly drowned in the Tiaghara (Tighra) Dam on the outskirts of Gwalior. Initial reports indicate the two slipped into a deep, muddy section of the reservoir while visiting a restricted, rocky stretch where public access is prohibited.

What happened
According to police and rescue officials, the incident occurred around 7pm on Saturday in the “kacchi paar” area roughly 3 km from the boat club. Eight second‑year students from Gajraraja Medical College (GRMC) had gone for a picnic — four male and four female classmates — and were standing near the water when 21‑year‑old Gopal Agrawal (Bina, Sagar) and Ayush Srivastava (Muzaffarpur, Bihar) moved closer and stepped into the water. Witnesses said both students suddenly lost their footing and sank in an area estimated to be 40–50 feet deep.

Recovery and ongoing search
Local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and trained divers were called after other students found the victims’ shoes and clothes neatly placed on the rocky bank and could not locate them. Gopal’s body was recovered late Saturday night, officials said. Search operations for Ayush resumed before dawn on Sunday and were still under way at the time of filing.

“Teams worked through the night using boats and high‑power lights,” a senior police official at the scene told reporters. “Local divers and SDRF personnel are conducting grid searches, but the dam’s depth, mud and submerged boulders are making the operation difficult.” Authorities said Ayush’s search had been active since 6am on Sunday.

Official responses
Circle Superintendent of Police (CSP) Krishanpal Singh said families of both students had been informed and reached Gwalior. “We reached the site immediately after the information came in and are coordinating with SDRF and local diving teams,” he said. The Tighra Dam’s flow and the restricted status of the ‘kacchi paar’ area complicate both access and visibility, Singh added.

At Gajraraja Medical College, Dean Dr RKS Dhakad described the incident as a “very sad loss” for the institution. “They had gone out for a picnic. This is a huge blow for the college and for the families,” he said, declining to give further comment while relatives were en route.

Family reactions
Relatives of the deceased reached Gwalior in the early hours of Sunday. Gopal’s brother Piyush and other family members arrived after receiving the message late Saturday night. A family member, Pradeep Agrawal, said Gopal was the youngest of five siblings and that his elder brother had been supporting his medical education. “He cleared NEET on his first attempt in 2024 and was very bright. He used to say he would stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother,” Pradeep said, adding that the family was in shock.

Ayush’s family has departed Muzaffarpur for Gwalior and were expected to arrive by Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed.

Why rescue is tough
Rescue personnel warned that submerged silt and irregular rocky contours under the dam make dive operations hazardous and time‑consuming. “The depth varies sharply; divers can’t see well because of mud and suspended particles. We are using sonar and manual grid searches where possible,” an SDRF team leader said.

Public safety and next steps
Tighra Dam officials reiterated that the kacchi paar area is off‑limits to visitors and urged people to avoid entering restricted zones. The local police said they would continue search operations until all possibilities were exhausted and would examine whether safety signage or enforcement around the dam needs strengthening.

Investigating officers said they will record statements from the surviving students and witnesses, and submit a preliminary report to the district authorities. Meanwhile, the college has offered counselling support to classmates and staff.

Two residents of Rewa district died on Thursday afternoon after their motorcycle plunged into a roughly 200-foot gorge at the popular Kyonti (क्योंटी) waterfall, officials said. Rescue teams took about three hours to retrieve the victims' bodies from the steep, rocky ravine.

Immediate rescue response

According to police and rescue officials, the accident occurred in the early afternoon near Kyonti waterfall, a known local picnic spot in Rewa. The deceased were identified as 19-year-old Ayush Gautam (son of Anil Gautam) of Shigti and 23-year-old Santosh Patel (son of Rama Patel) of Chhattargarh, police said.

Local residents alerted authorities after seeing the motorcycle and signs of a crash at the waterfall edge. “We received the first call around midday and teams were dispatched immediately,” an officer at the Newagadhi police station said. The District Rescue Cell (DRC), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police jointly launched the operation.

Difficult terrain hampered access

Initial reports indicate the bike went over the edge and both riders fell onto rocks far below, making immediate access hazardous. “They had struck the rocks in the ravine,” an SDRF team leader, Vikas Pandey, told reporters. Pandey said the team reached the site soon after notification and worked with police and DRC personnel to locate and recover the bodies.

The gorge’s steepness and loose rock made the operation slow and risky. Rescuers used ropes and technical gear to descend into the chasm, stabilise the site and bring the bodies up. The joint operation lasted about three hours before both victims were brought to the surface, officials said.

Sequence of events

• Midday: Locals noticed wreckage and alerted police.

• Within an hour: Police, DRC and SDRF teams arrived and assessed the scene.

• Next three hours: Technical recovery operation using ropes and climbing gear.

• Late afternoon: Bodies were recovered and taken to Rewa district hospital for post-mortem and further legal formalities.

Investigation under way

Police said a formal investigation has begun to establish the cause of the crash. “We are examining whether speed, road condition near the waterfall or rider error contributed to the fall,” a senior police official said. The motorcycle has been seized as evidence and witnesses from nearby shops and passersby are being questioned.

Autopsy and legal steps

The bodies were sent for post-mortem at Rewa District Hospital; results and cause-of-death details will be recorded in the subsequent police report. Local police confirmed that legal procedures, including filing of an accidental death report, were under way.

Safety concerns at Kyonti

Kyonti waterfall attracts visitors, especially on weekends and public holidays, because of its scenic drop and natural pools. Locals and authorities have repeatedly warned about steep edges, slippery rocks and lack of safety barriers at several viewpoints. This accident has prompted renewed calls for basic safety measures around the site.

Residents and visitors react

People who frequent the falls said crowds and two-wheelers parked dangerously close to the edge increase risks, particularly when roads are narrow and visibility is limited. “They come for selfies and sometimes park their bikes near the crest,” a shopkeeper near the site said. “There are no guardrails in many places; one wrong turn and you could go over.”

What happens next

Police said the probe will look into whether negligence or reckless driving played a role and whether authorities should install signage, barriers or restricted parking. The district administration did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment on the need for safety upgrades at Kyonti.

For now, the focus remains on completing medico-legal formalities and informing the families. Local leaders and community members said they would press officials to review safety at the waterfall to prevent similar tragedies.

Silpara Dam search intensifies

Search operations at Silpara Dam and its adjoining canal entered a critical phase on Monday after the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Varanasi arrived here to assist local agencies. Authorities said the additional resources aim to boost efforts to find two men who have been missing since separate incidents in May and June.

What happened

According to officials, 23-year-old Arun Kumar Vishwakarma vanished on the night of 18 May. Three days later, police found his motorcycle and a single slipper abandoned on the bank of the Silpara canal, prompting an underwater search amid fears he had drowned. Separate reports say 28-year-old soldier Gaurav Dwivedi went missing on 3 June after he waded into deep water while bathing at the Silpara reservoir near Baghwar village.

Timeline and local response

Local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and divers launched sustained searches in the canal and reservoir immediately after each disappearance. The canal’s flow was shut twice to facilitate underwater combing, but teams failed to recover either man. Sources familiar with the matter said variable visibility and strong currents have repeatedly hampered divers’ work.

Long-running searches and mounting frustration

Extended, unsuccessful search efforts have heightened tensions in the area. Relatives and villagers staged a road blockade on Sunday, alleging inadequate early response and insufficient resources during the initial days of the hunt. “We told them from the start to bring specialized teams, but the search went on without them for too long,” a family member told reporters, declining to be named.

Police and administration response

Bichhiya police and district officers defended their earlier actions while acknowledging gaps. “Initial searches were carried out with the resources available locally,” an official said. “Given the complexity, we requested NDRF assistance and coordinated the team’s arrival from Varanasi.” District administration sources said the NDRF contingent brought advanced sonar equipment and specialist divers to improve underwater detection.

What the NDRF will do

NDRF personnel began inspecting the dam and canal banks on arrival and will deploy side-scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and trained rescue divers, officials said. These instruments help map the bed and detect anomalies where bodies or large objects could be lodged, especially in silty or low-visibility conditions. “We will work in coordination with local police and SDRF to cover all probable zones systematically,” an NDRF officer at the site said.

Ground-level conditions

Locals describe the reservoir’s far bank as steep and muddy, with submerged vegetation and uneven bed profiles that complicate searches. Heavy monsoon inflows have not begun in full, but isolated rains in the past week raised water turbidity, witnesses said. Search teams have been focusing on bends, culverts and deeper pockets where currents could trap bodies.

Public pressure and next steps

Families of both missing men have demanded an expanded, continuous operation until results are found. They want more manpower, around-the-clock sonar sweeps and clear public briefings on progress. District officials said the NDRF deployment marks an upgrade in capability and that searches will continue daily until warranted by findings.

Legal and administrative follow-up

Police have registered missing-person reports in both cases; investigations are ongoing to determine circumstances that led to the disappearances. Officials said they are also reviewing whether procedural delays occurred during the initial response and will record findings once operations conclude.

Why it matters

Silpara is a lifeline for nearby villages for irrigation and daily chores. Incidents like these raise broader safety questions about access, signage and public awareness at water bodies that see frequent local use. Residents and officials say they expect the NDRF’s technical edge to either produce evidence or narrow search zones, offering some closure to the families.

Late-night disaster on Betwa river

At least six labourers were killed early Friday after a concrete slab of an under-construction bridge collapsed on the Betwa river in Hamirpur district. The incident took place around 3 AM when a sudden, intense storm accompanied by heavy rain swept through the region.

Officials said the workers were either sleeping or working underneath the slab when the supporting structure gave way. The collapse trapped several people under heavy debris. Rescue teams have since pulled out six bodies, but officials fear the number could rise.

Storm triggers collapse

Eyewitnesses and preliminary reports indicate that the severe weather was the immediate trigger. According to Suresh Kumar, a labourer who was on top of the bridge when the storm hit, the wind turned violently around midnight.

“Those from the first shift were resting below. Seven of us from the second shift were working on top. We just lay down flat to save ourselves from the storm. That’s when the slab fell,” Kumar said. He survived but saw colleagues get buried.

Rescue operation underway

A joint rescue operation involving local police, disaster response teams, and JCB machines is active at the site. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the spot by early morning. Officials are removing the concrete rubble piece by piece.

ASP Arvind Kumar Verma confirmed that the alert came in around 2 AM. “Six people are still trapped under the debris. Five have been identified so far,” he said. Senior district officials, including the DM, are present on the ground.

Victims identified

Among the deceased, four hailed from Banda district, while two were from Hamirpur. They have been identified as Lokendra Nishad (22), Kuldeep Nishad (19), Sawant Yadav (28), Sabhajeet (30), Pushpendra Singh Chauhan (34), and Rajesh Pal (42). Family members of the victims, including Rajesh Pal’s young daughters, broke down on reaching the spot.

Officials promise action

Managing Director of the UP Bridge Corporation, Dharmveer Singh, said the bridge was still under construction. “Strong winds disturbed the support system placed beneath the slabs. That caused the segment to collapse. Workers sleeping below had no chance,” he said.

Singh added that the corporation and local administration will conduct a joint investigation. A third-party audit by IIT BHU was already in process for the structure. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the accident. Local BJP MP Brij Lal said the government will investigate and “action will be taken against those responsible.”

What happens next

Rescue work continues as authorities clear heavy debris. Officials have not yet ruled out more casualties. The district administration has announced assistance for the families of the deceased. For now, questions are being raised about safety protocols at the site, especially for overnight shifts during unpredictable weather.

Jabalpur cruise tragedy: Missing uncle, nephew found; death toll reaches 13

The recovery of Kamaraj R’s body on Sunday morning marks the end of a grim four-day search operation in Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam.

The harrowing search for victims of the Bargi Dam cruise tragedy concluded on Sunday morning as rescue teams recovered the final two missing bodies from the reservoir. With the recovery of Kamaraj R (42) and his eight-year-old nephew Mayuran, the total death toll from the April 30 accident has climbed to 13, including four children and eight women.

The body of young Mayuran, a resident of Trichy in Tamil Nadu, was spotted by divers around 6:00 am, floating some distance away from the primary accident site. Hours later, at approximately 9:40 am, the remains of his uncle, Kamaraj, were pulled from the water.

Final bodies recovered after 90 hours

The search, which entered its fourth day on Sunday, had been hampered by fluctuating weather and the sheer depth of the Bargi reservoir. Local authorities confirmed that with these two recoveries, all persons reported missing by their families have been accounted for.

Earlier on Saturday evening, the atmosphere at the site turned somber as the bodies of two other children—five-year-old Shritamil (Kamaraj’s son) and five-year-old Viraj—were brought to the shore. CSP Anjul Ayank Mishra stated that while the primary search is over, personnel remain on-site as a precautionary measure to ensure no other unidentified victims remain.

Tragedy during a family vacation

The victims were part of a larger group from Tamil Nadu visiting relatives in Jabalpur. Before heading to the Bargi Dam on that fateful Tuesday, the family had spent the morning at Bhedaghat, enjoying the marble rocks and ropeway rides.

Initial reports suggest the cruise was carrying roughly 47 passengers, significantly higher than the reported 29 tickets issued. The vessel capsized nearly 300 meters from the shore when a sudden storm, described by some officials as a "mini-tornado," hit the area with wind speeds reaching 74 kmph.

Mortal remains sent to Trichy

The Jabalpur district administration has been coordinating with the Tamil Nadu government to repatriate the deceased. On Sunday, a cargo aircraft was arranged at Dumna Airport to transport the bodies back to Trichy.

The process faced a brief delay when the first scheduled cargo plane developed a technical snag, necessitating a backup aircraft. Surviving family members, who had camped at the dam site for four days, accompanied the remains of their loved ones on the flight home.

Questions over weather warnings

While MP Tourism advisors have pointed toward an "unprecedented weather event" and high waves as the cause of the capsize, questions are being raised regarding safety protocols.

Sources familiar with the matter pointed out that a 'yellow alert' had been issued by the Meteorological Department for that evening. It remains unclear why the cruise was permitted to operate or if any real-time communication existed between the shore and the vessel once the weather began to deteriorate rapidly around 5:30 pm.

Timeline of a desperate rescue

The timeline of the past 72 hours reflects a frantic struggle against the elements. After the vessel sank at 6:10 pm on April 30, the first 21 survivors were pulled out within the hour. However, the mission turned into a recovery operation by nightfall.

Heavy machinery, including hydraulic cranes and gas cutters, were used to breach the hull of the submerged cruise on May 1. Divers from the 411 Para Field Company in Agra were eventually called in to assist the NDRF and SDRF teams after initial attempts to lift the vessel failed due to the muddy bed of the dam.

The administration is expected to conduct a high-level inquiry into the seating capacity and the decision to sail despite the storm warning. For now, the focus remains on assisting the grieving families as they return to Tamil Nadu.

Jabalpur tragedy: 9 bodies recovered from Bargi Dam after storm sinks tourist cruise

A routine evening outing turned into a horrific disaster at Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam on Thursday when a sudden, violent storm capsized a tourist department cruise. Rescue teams have recovered nine bodies so far, including a Delhi-based mother found tightly clutching her four-year-old son. While 28 people were pulled to safety in the immediate aftermath, four tourists remain missing as search operations enter a critical phase.

The incident occurred around 5:00 PM on Thursday, approximately 300 meters from the shore. Local authorities confirmed that the region was hit by a massive storm with wind speeds reaching 74 km per hour, leaving the vessel’s pilot with almost no time to navigate to safety.

Heartbreaking scenes during recovery

The most harrowing moment for the rescue teams came on Friday morning when they recovered the bodies of Marina and her son, Trishan. The family had traveled from Delhi for a vacation. In her final moments, Marina had reportedly tucked her son inside her own life jacket, holding him against her chest. Even after being submerged for hours, the two were found locked in an embrace. While Marina and Trishan perished, her husband Pradeep and daughter Siya managed to survive the capsize.

Massive search operation underway

Bargi City CSP Anjul Mishra stated that while the SDRF began operations on Thursday evening, the efforts were hampered by fading light and deteriorating weather. On Friday, the Indian Army joined the mission alongside specialized units. A technical team with a helicopter has been dispatched from Hyderabad, and a paramilitary squad from Kolkata is already on-ground. Divers are currently working at a depth of 20 feet, using hydraulic machines and pincers to move the submerged wreckage.

Discrepancy in passenger count

The administration is currently investigating a significant lapse in protocol. While official records show tickets were issued for only 29 people, initial ground reports suggest between 43 and 47 tourists were actually on board. "We are looking into the manifest and the ticketing process to understand why there is a mismatch in the numbers," an official said. The cruise, which was built in 2006, reportedly had a total capacity of 60, but the overcrowding relative to the issued tickets has raised eyebrows.

Pilot cites sudden storm

Mahesh, the cruise pilot with a decade of experience, survived the incident and recounted the chaos. According to him, the storm was so sudden and violent that passengers didn't even have time to reach for life jackets. He noted that the wind rendered the vessel uncontrollable within seconds, causing it to list and eventually submerge before help could reach them from the jetty.

Government announces ex-gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, who is expected to reach Jabalpur this evening, has ordered a high-level inquiry into the safety lapses. Meanwhile, State Tourism Minister Dharmendra Lodhi faced criticism after appearing unaware of the local regulations regarding boat operations in the Narmada backwaters during a media briefing.

Families wait in agony

The tragedy has devastated several families, including that of Kamraj Arya, an employee at the Khamaria Ordnance Factory. Kamraj had gone for the outing with 15 family members. While his elderly parents stayed back on the shore, Kamraj, his wife, and their children boarded the boat. While one son was rescued, Kamraj and his wife remain among the missing.

As of Friday afternoon, nine victims have been identified, including residents from Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Bhopal, and local areas of Jabalpur. The identification of the remaining bodies is currently being processed at the district hospital.

Bhagirath Borewell Tragedy: 8 Failed Attempts, 22-Hour Rescue Ends in Death

Rescue Effort Collapses After Midnight

A two-year-old child, Bhagirath Devasi, died after falling into a 200-foot-deep borewell in Badnagar, Ujjain district. The rescue operation lasted nearly 22 hours but ended in tragedy on Thursday.

Eight consecutive attempts to pull the child out failed. Teams from SDRF and NDRF worked through the night, yet could only recover the body using iron rods and ropes meant for extracting motors.

Timeline of a Failed Operation

The child slipped into the borewell around 4:30 PM on Wednesday. Rescue teams reached within an hour. But initial efforts lacked coordination.

Officials said Bhagirath was first trapped at 35 feet. Due to unsuccessful hook attempts, he slipped deeper to 70 feet. Oxygen supply was maintained until 2 PM Thursday, after which the pipe was removed – a clear signal that the team had given up hope.

Equipment Gaps Haunt Rescuers

Ujjain SDRF’s underwater camera worked only up to 55 feet. When the child went deeper, the equipment became useless. Plastic joint pipes were ordered from private suppliers. A private expert, Vijaysingh Sankhla, had to be called in with better cameras used normally for removing faulty motors.

“The camera lacked stability. The underwater view was blurry,” sources indicated.

Harda SDRF later arrived with thin iron pipes, a three-legged stand, and a child dummy for practice – something the local team did not possess.

No Stability, No Backup Plan

For the first eight hours, rescuers relied on only one strategy: hooking the child’s clothes or bangle. When that failed repeatedly, no backup plan existed.

Ground leveling was ignored initially. Jawans and villagers held the rod manually at the borewell opening. Harda SDRF later leveled the ground and installed a locking stand, which provided better control.

Parallel Pit Technique Not Used Early

Officials confirmed that parallel digging – a standard method where a pit is dug alongside the borewell – was not attempted in the first several hours. By the time it began, time had already run out.

“If Harda team had arrived earlier, the outcome could have been better,” an officer admitted.

Official Statements and Compensation

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief and announced ₹4 lakh as financial assistance for the family. District Collector Roshan Kumar Singh and SP Pradeep Sharma remained at the site throughout.

SDRF Ujjain Commandant Santosh Kumar Jat said the team was actively engaged. But sources noted that the local SDRF lacked clear strategy and depth-specific training.

What Next: Questions Without Answers

The tragedy has exposed glaring gaps in India’s borewell rescue infrastructure. Experts say standard operating procedures for borewell depth beyond 50 feet do not exist at the district level.

Public interest groups are now demanding a national audit of rescue equipment across all SDRF units. Meanwhile, Bhagirath’s body was handed over to his family after post-mortem. Last rites were performed on Thursday evening.

As one official put it on condition of anonymity, “We brought rods to pull out a motor. We forgot we were pulling out a child.”