A tragic accident unfolded in the Fatehpur district of उत्तर प्रदेश during the conclusion of the Durga Puja celebrations. In Baijupur Chak Katoghan village under the Khaga Kotwali police station area, three young friends lost their lives after drowning in a pond while they had entered the water during an idol immersion procession. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the entire village, plunging grieving families into deep sorrow.
How the incident unfolded
According to available details, villagers were transporting a Goddess Durga idol on a tractor-trolley toward the Naubasta ghat for immersion. En route, the locals began immersing the idol in a village pond. At that moment, five friends accompanying the procession stepped into the pond to bathe. Unaware of the deep water, all five began to drown one after another. Hearing their frantic cries, villagers nearby rushed to the scene and alerted the authorities.
Three dead, two referred to district hospital
Local residents and police personnel pulled all five individuals out of the water after strenuous efforts and rushed them to the nearby Hardo hospital. Doctors at the facility pronounced three of the youths dead upon arrival. Due to the critical condition of the remaining two victims, they were referred to the Fatehpur district hospital for advanced treatment. The deceased have been identified as 20-year-old Aditya, son of Raju Sahu, 18-year-old Raja Sahu, son of Bablu, and 16-year-old Abhimanyu, son of Govardhan Sahu. Meanwhile, the injured youths, Harsh and यशवंत, are currently undergoing medical treatment at the district hospital.
Mourning grips the village
Upon receiving news of the tragedy, family members rushed to the hospital, where their grief was overwhelming. The atmosphere in Baijupur Chak Katoghan village turned desolate as the joyous festive celebrations of Durga Puja transformed overnight into profound mourning and distress.
Administrative response and safety appeal
Following the incident, the Khaga Kotwali police took the bodies into custody, sent them for post-mortem examinations, and initiated a detailed investigation. The Khaga Sub-Divisional Magistrate stated that the villagers were en route to the Naubasta ghat but began the immersion prematurely in an intermediate pond where the drowning occurred. Local authorities have strongly appealed to citizens to use strictly designated and secure water bodies for all ritual immersions.
