PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
A 17-year-old boy drowned in Kosi river during a disaster management mock drill held in the Betalghat area of Nainital district. The accident occurred when the boy was crossing the river to watch the mock drill but lost his balance and fell into the river and was swept away.
Tragically enough, when the police, administration and SDRF, along with other departments, were simulating a rain-triggered disaster scenario in the Kali Pahari area located on the Shaheed Balwant Singh motor road under Betalghat development block to test its emergency preparedness, the boy was swept away by the currents of the river. The teams had to launch a real search and rescue operation and pulled out the boy and took him to the local community health centre. However, the doctors declared him dead.
Police said that the deceased had been identified as Vishal Singh, a resident of a village across the river. “After much effort, the teenager, who had drifted approximately 800 meters downstream, was pulled out of the river and immediately taken to the CHC at Garampani,” said a police officer engaged in the rescue operation.
