The Balod district of Chhattisgarh is in a state of mourning following a devastating drowning accident in the Tandula canal that claimed the lives of a local EMT worker and his young daughter. Tayman Ganjir, who had recently been posted to the Balod headquarters of the 108 ambulance service, was visiting his in-laws in Pipershedi for a family wedding when the accident occurred. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, highlighting the dangers of swimming in canals during reservoir discharge periods.
On Tuesday, Ganjir took his 12-year-old daughter, Palanki, to the canal to teach her swimming skills. They were accompanied by another young relative. However, the canal’s conditions were treacherous due to the ongoing release of water from the Tandula dam. The current was far stronger than anticipated, and all three individuals were caught in the fast-moving water. Although onlookers were able to pull the niece to safety, Ganjir and his daughter were dragged under and vanished from sight within seconds.
Following an intensive rescue operation involving police divers and local volunteers, Ganjir’s body was pulled from the water a short distance from the entry point. The search for his daughter was more difficult, involving a long stretch of the canal. Her body was finally retrieved on Wednesday morning, roughly 20 kilometers away from where she first fell in. Ganjir was well-known in the medical community, having previously served in the Pakhanjur area before his recent transfer. The double tragedy has left his family and colleagues in deep shock.
