Lucknow,: Seven children were feared drowned as a pick-up van carrying them fell in the Indira canal here in the state capital on Thursday.
The van was carrying 29 people out of which 22 were rescued by the villagers but seven (all children) are still missing which include 5 boys and 2 girls.
The incident took place near the Patwa Kheda village under the Nagram Police station area, here at around 0300 hrs. As per sources, they were returning from a marriage function this morning and were going to their native place in Barabanki when the incident happened.
Team of NDRF, SDRF have arrived on the spot and are currently engaged in the rescue work of fishing out the missing children. The feared drowned are in the age group of 9 to 12 years.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lucknow Range, SK Bhagat said, ‘A vehicle carrying around 29 people fell into the canal, around 22 people have been rescued so far, 7 children are still missing. Rescue operations by NDRF and local divers underway.’
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed his grief over the incident and has directed the Lucknow authorities to go for massive rescue operation.
UNI.
