Body of 10-year-old boy, who was swept away in nullah, still untraceable; search called off

Nagpur: The tragedy-struck Meshram family of Gulmohar Nagar in the outskirts of the city is waiting endlessly for some information about their son 10-year-old Nehal who was swept away in a gushing nullah six days ago. The fire department has also called off the search searching for the body in eight kilometre stretch.
On July 19, Nehal had gone to Laxmi Nagar crossing over the nullah that had a cement pole laid across. While returning, he slipped and fell into the strong current of the storm water in the nullah. Nehal is missing since. The nullah later joined Pili Nadi and then Nag River before flowing into Kanhan.
Apart from the fire department, Kalamna police too tried their best to trace the body by engaging the local divers but in vain. The family and friends too made some futile attempts.
Nehal’s father Shekhar, a driver, said he was still living in hope to be able to give his younger son a burial he deserved. “Officers and politicians came for the first couple of days. Later, it’s only us who are fighting the battle. We keep walking along the banks of the nullah in the anticipation to trace him but return empty handed,” he said.
Chief fire officer Rajendra Uchake said his team had made utmost efforts but tracing a body in the muddy water of the monsoon was not easy. “The body may have got stuck in underwater vegetation,” he said.
Senior inspector V Chauhan of Kalamna police station said the neighbouring police stations in the rural and other districts have been alerted about the incident.