Two boys feared drowned in rivulet

Surat: Two boys are feared drowned in a rivulet near Saniya Hemad village on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. The boys were crossing a makeshift wooden bridge (a strip of wood) over the rivulet when they lost balance and fell into the water. The makeshift wooden bridge existed near the site of the bridge under construction for people to cross the rivulet. Fire Brigade personnel were unable to locate the two children in the water in the evening hours.
Manoj Chauhan, 9, and Shiva Saiyam, 8, were children of the labourers working at the site for the construction of the bridge over the rivulet. Some labourers had seen them falling into the water and immediately alerted Fire Brigade and police.

“A team from Fire Brigade carried out a rescue operation, but could not locate the children. The rescue operation was called off in the evening, but would be resumed on Sunday morning,” an officer of Fire Brigade said.

Fire Brigade personnel wearing ring buoys entered the rivulet, but the rescue operation had to be called off due to darkness and polluted water. Nothing could be seen in the water because of effluents discharged into it by local industries.

Manoj Chauhan and Shiva Saiyam were students of Saroli Primary School. The labourers and their family members use the makeshift wooden bridge to cross the rivulet. “We are keeping a close watch on the situation. We will do everything possible along with Fire Brigade personnel to locate the boys,” a police officer said.