Tragedy struck in Uttar Pradesh's Agra on Tuesday when four teenage girls drowned while bathing in the Yamuna River near Bypur village under the Sikandra police station area. Two other girls were critically injured and are currently receiving hospital treatment. The incident occurred when a group of six girls entered the river together, unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface.
According to eyewitness accounts, the tragedy began when one girl accidentally ventured into deep water and started struggling. Her friends rushed to help, but the strong current proved too powerful, sweeping all of them away. Local villagers heard their cries and immediately alerted authorities, but by the time help arrived, it was too late for some.
A large-scale rescue operation was launched, with police teams including senior officers and professional divers working for hours to recover the victims. The girls' bodies were later identified by their devastated family members. The entire village has been plunged into grief, with relatives and neighbors struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. The victims, all cousins between 10 and 18 years old, were part of a larger group of eight girls who had gone to the river that day.
Authorities have assured the bereaved families of all possible support while emphasising the need for greater public awareness about water safety.
Police have initiated a thorough investigation into the incident and have sent the bodies for postmortem examination. This heartbreaking event has once again highlighted the dangers of unsupervised bathing in rivers, particularly during the summer months when water levels can be unpredictable.
The two surviving girls, who had raised the alarm when they saw their friends in trouble, are said to be traumatized by the incident.
