PM Modi condoles Gujarat Meshwo river drowning incident | India News

NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in a drowning incident in Gujarat‘s Dehgam taluk area in a social media post, in the wee hours on Saturday.
At least eight people drowned while bathing in the Meshwo River in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district on Friday evening, an official had earlier said.
Sharing a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “Deeply saddened by the news of the loss of life in the drowning incident in Dehgam taluk of Gujarat.My condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy.”
The eight victims were identified as inhabitants of Vasna Sogthi village in Dehgam taluka, and the tragedy occurred near the village, as stated by Sub Divisional Magistrate B B Modiya.
Modiya, who oversaw the search and rescue efforts, mentioned that a group of villagers who had gone to the river to immerse Ganesh idols discovered the drowning incident and notified the authorities.
“After getting a message, police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the site. We have recovered eight bodies from the river. One person who was assumed to be missing was later found safe in the village. So the rescue operation, which continued till late evening, was called off,” he said.
The victims were local residents, but they likely miscalculated the depth of the river at that particular spot due to the recent increase in water level caused by an under-construction check dam located a short distance away, according to the official.
Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah condoled the deaths and wrote on X: “Today I am deeply saddened by the news that 8 youths of Vasana Soghathi village of Dehgam, Gandhinagar drowned while taking a bath in the river. I am saddened by the calamity this unexpected departure has brought upon his family. May the Merciful God rest the departed souls in their Sricharan and give strength to all the families to bear the bereavement.”
(With inputs from agencies)