Madhubani: A 20-year-old man drowned after he and his girlfriend jumped into a village pond to escape a group of youths who spotted them during a secret late-night meeting in Durgapatti village under Harlakhi police station area of Madhubani district on Friday night.Shivam Kumar of nearby Umgaon village had gone to meet his girlfriend near an orchard beside the pond around 10pm when local youths allegedly chased them. Fearing harassment, the couple jumped into the pond. While villagers rescued the young woman, Shivam, who reportedly could not swim, struggled in the water. Eyewitnesses alleged some people prevented him from climbing out using bamboo sticks.Villagers later recovered Shivam from the pond and took him to Umgaon Community Health Centre (CHC), where no doctor was allegedly present. He was later shifted to a private clinic in Basopatti, where doctors declared him dead.“If a doctor had been available at the CHC and timely treatment had been given, Shivam’s life could have been saved,” local resident Anshu Kushwaha said. Police said investigation was underway and no FIR had been lodged so far.
