Sarayu River Claims Two Young Lives in Gorakhpur

What began as a refreshing Sunday dip turned into unimaginable sorrow for a family in Gorakhpur when two children drowned in the Sarayu river near Mehda temple. Prince, 11, and his sister Shivani, 13, who were visiting their maternal grandparents, never returned from the riverbank outing. Their cousin Maya, 16, survived after a local youth risked his life to pull her and Prince from the water. Eyewitnesses said the children suddenly slipped into a deep portion of the river measuring over forty feet. Hearing screams, villagers alerted Chandu, who dived in and brought out two of the three children. Prince could not be revived despite immediate medical attention. Maya is recovering at a private hospital. After an extensive search lasting two hours, divers recovered Shivani's body. She was declared dead at the local health centre. The double tragedy has plunged the entire village into mourning. Family members, who had been enjoying the school holidays, are struggling to come to terms with the loss. Senior police and administrative officials visited the site, completed formalities, and sent the bodies for post-mortem. The incident underscores the urgent need for safety measures at popular river bathing spots during peak summer months.