Kanpur: Two maternal cousins were feared to have drowned in the Ganga at Gudara Ganga Ghat in Bithoor around 3 am on Monday after crossing a warning rope and entering deep waters. Bithoor police, water police and divers launched a search operation, but neither youth could be traced.Abhishek Sonkar, a resident of Chakarpur Mandi under Sachendi police station, arrived at the ghat around 3 am with his cousin Ashiq Sonkar (16) and maternal cousin Satish Sonkar (18). While bathing, Ashiq and Satish crossed the safety rope and ventured into deeper waters.According to witnesses, the two began drowning soon after. Abhishek raised an alarm, following which divers entered the Ganga to search for them, but the strong current swept them away.Police teams and water police reached the spot and launched a search with the help of divers. However, the fast current hampered the operation. Family members also reached the ghat and remained there, hoping the two would be found safe.The incident occurred despite senior officials having inspected major Ganga ghats in Bithoor ahead of the third Monday of Shrawan and directed strict surveillance and deployment of police personnel. A warning rope had also been installed at Gudara Ghat to prevent people from entering deep water.Bithoor SHO Ashok Kumar Saroj said the two youths had crossed the warning rope and entered deep water while bathing. “Both drowned in the Ganga. Teams of water police and divers are continuously searching for them. The strong current is making the search operation difficult,” he said.
