A harrowing incident unfolded in the Goilkera block of Chaibasa, Jharkhand, where a local resident was washed away while attempting to cross the turbulent waters of the Karo river. The missing individual has been identified as 45-year-old Yakub Angaria, a resident of Girja Toli in Rela village. Despite intense search efforts spanning two days, no sign of the man has been found, plunging his family into profound anguish.
Tragedy Strikes During Evening Commute
On Tuesday, October 6, Yakub Angaria travelled to the neighbouring village of Lebenta to visit a local blacksmith. He needed to get an iron dauli crafted and spent the day attending to the task. During his return journey back to Rela village later in the evening, he had to cross the Karo river on foot. Heavy currents overwhelmed him as he entered the water, dragging him downstream in an instant before he could secure stable footing.
Desperate Search Enters Second Day
As soon as word of the mishap reached the village, relatives and local residents hurried to the river banks to launch search operations. Community members have been scouring the riverbanks and downstream stretches for two full days, yet their efforts have yielded no breakthrough. Yakub leaves behind his wife and six children, who are now facing immense emotional distress as hopes for his safe return dwindle with every passing hour.
Absence of Bridge Forces Risky Commutes
The tragedy highlights the persistent lack of vital infrastructure in this rural belt. In the absence of a bridge over the Karo river, hundreds of villagers from nearby settlements have no option but to risk their lives daily by wading through treacherous currents. Routine chores, medical needs, and travel between adjacent habitations turn perilous whenever water volume rises or currents intensify.
Recurrent Casualties in the Area
This is not an isolated fatality in the vicinity of Rela village. Barely days earlier, on September 26, a 28-year-old youth named Manay Surin tragically drowned while attempting to navigate the same Karo river. His body was recovered the following day near a government school in Paral village. With Yakub now missing in the very same river, local residents remain deeply concerned about the recurring hazards of crossing without a bridge.
