Janjgir-Champa, Sep 12: One student died and two remain missing after three students were swept away in the Hasdeo river on Friday while on a picnic in Devri village, police said on Saturday. Authorities have recovered one body and intensified search operations along the river.
Incident and immediate response
The incident occurred in Devri village, under Balauda police station limits, when eight students who were pursuing a pharmacy course in Bilaspur had visited the spot for a picnic, Station House Officer (SHO) Manohar Sinha said. The students were reportedly taking selfies near the riverbank when one slipped and fell into the water.
Two classmates jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue him but were carried away by the strong current, the SHO said.
Search, recovery and ongoing operation
Local police were alerted and launched a search operation immediately, assisted by Home Guard divers. The operation continued until late on Friday evening without any breakthrough, Mr Sinha said.
On Saturday morning, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team joined the search. Drones were deployed and searches were conducted at multiple points downstream.
“A body was recovered about 1.5 km downstream from the spot where the students reportedly went missing. It has been identified as Pawan Lal,” the SHO said.
The recovered body has been identified as Pawan Lal (22), a resident of Chirmiri in Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district. The two other students still missing have been named as Murari Sahu (22) and Sachin Singh (23), the police said.
Victims and demographics
All three were among eight students who had travelled from a college in Bilaspur for the picnic. Police confirmed that the group included female students as well, though the three swept away were male.
| Name | Age | Residence / District | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murari Sahu | 22 | Not specified | Missing |
| Pawan Lal | 22 | Chirmiri, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur | Body recovered |
| Sachin Singh | 23 | Not specified | Missing |
Authorities involved and search methods
The search team comprises:
- Local police and Balauda police station personnel
- Home Guard divers
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
- Drone units for aerial reconnaissance
Teams have been searching different locations along the river, concentrating on areas downstream from the point where the students were swept away.
Local reaction and safety context
The Hasdeo river is known for strong currents in certain stretches, particularly after recent rains or during seasonal flows. Riverbank areas popular for outings can be hazardous, officials said, urging caution when visiting. The incident underlines the risks of taking selfies near water bodies and entering strong currents without safety equipment or professional supervision.
Next steps and investigations
Police said the search will continue and that they are coordinating with district-level disaster response and rescue units. An inquiry into the circumstances leading to the students entering the river is underway, and authorities will record statements from surviving members of the group and any eyewitnesses.
Family members of the missing students have been informed and are in contact with local officials. The recovered body has been sent for post-mortem as per standard procedure, the SHO added.
Safety advisory
- Avoid standing or taking pictures near slippery riverbanks.
- Do not enter rapid-flowing water; seek help from trained rescue teams if someone is swept away.
- Carry mobile numbers of local police, SDRF and Home Guard when visiting riverine areas.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about the missing students’ whereabouts to come forward and assist the ongoing search.
