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.