Bodies of Car Passengers Retrieved from Canal After 11 Hours

Prayagraj / Koraon:  The bodies of two young men who were travelling in a wedding procession car that plunged into a canal were recovered nearly 11 hours after the accident on Monday morning.

The bodies were retrieved from the canal around 100 metres away from the accident site by a constable of Koraon police station.

After post-mortem examinations conducted later in the evening, the bodies were handed over to their grieving families.

The accident occurred on Sunday night when two cars carrying members of a wedding procession fell into the Belan Canal near Badwari village.

Abhishek, son of CRPF personnel Lalji Shukla and a resident of Naini, was getting married in Ghugha village under the Koraon police station limits. Nine friends of the groom, who had arrived from different places to attend the wedding, were travelling in two cars towards Ghugha.

At around 10 pm, as the vehicles were crossing a culvert over the Belan Canal near Badwari village, both cars lost control and plunged into the canal.

Anees Singh                   Pradeep

Villagers rushed to the spot and managed to rescue seven of the occupants from the water. However, 19-year-old Anis Singh and 30-year-old Pradeep Kushwaha were swept away by the strong current.

The Koraon police, along with SDRF personnel and local villagers, continued search operations until around 4 am but without success.

The search resumed at 7 am, with SDRF teams, divers, and police personnel entering the canal once again. Around 9 am, constable Avadhesh Singh first recovered the body of Anis, followed shortly by Pradeep’s body.

Anis was a resident of Phephna in Ballia district, while Pradeep hailed from Atarra in Banda district.

Both were living in government quarters at the CRPF camp in Parila, Phaphamau. Tragically, both were the only sons of their parents.

The accident has shattered two families. Anis’s father, Namo Narayan, had served in the CRPF and passed away a few years ago.

After Anis turned 18, he was eligible to get a compassionate appointment in place of his father. His mother, Poonam Singh and sister Anshu had been eagerly waiting for him to join the service.

The family had never imagined that just when their long-awaited happiness was within reach, they would be struck by an irreparable loss.

Pradeep Kushwaha’s father, Shiv Mohan Kushwaha, is a Sub-Inspector in the CRPF and is currently posted in Srinagar.

Thirty-year-old Pradeep, who was preparing for competitive examinations, had been married to Aarti from Banda about a year ago.

He was soon to become a father and was reportedly very excited about the new chapter in his life. News of his death left his mother Saraswati Devi, wife Aarti, and sisters Neelam and Pooja inconsolable.

At a Glance

• Seven lives saved: A total of nine youths were travelling in the two cars. While two lost their lives, seven were rescued safely by villagers.
• Those rescued include Shubham Shukla and Saurav Gautam from Rewa; Sandeep from Azamgarh; Vishal Maurya from Jaunpur; and Wasim, Anoop Kumar, and Rohit.

Mother’s Health Deteriorates After Son’s Death

Upon hearing about her only son’s death, Anis’s mother, Poonam Singh, reached the post-mortem house in a distraught condition and collapsed.

She was rushed to SRN Hospital and later shifted to a private cardiac hospital, where she was admitted.

Anis had been living in the CRPF government quarters, while his mother and sister resided in their private home at Shantipuram, where they received the tragic news.

A Deadly Culvert That Continues to Claim Lives

The Badwari canal culvert, from where the wedding procession cars fell on Sunday night, has claimed many lives over the years.

Accidents occur frequently at this spot, with both two-wheelers and four-wheelers repeatedly plunging into the canal.

The primary reason behind these accidents is the flawed design of the culvert. Located on the main road connecting Koraon and Drummondganj, the sharp bend of the bridge often misleads unfamiliar drivers.

The service road along the canal runs straight, creating confusion for motorists. By the time drivers realise the need to take a turn, it is often too late, resulting in accidents.

While the risk is lower during daylight, it increases significantly at night, when most accidents have occurred.

Residents have repeatedly demanded that the culvert be redesigned and straightened to prevent further tragedies, but no corrective measures have been taken so far.

Even basic warning or indicator boards are absent.

Previous Accidents at the Same Spot

• August 2022: Shiv Chandra, a trader from Sidhi (Madhya Pradesh), fell into the canal along with his Bolero vehicle and died.
• 2022: Suyash Singh from Hanumana fell into the canal while riding a motorcycle and suffered a broken leg.
• 2023: Ramroop Adivasi from Mauganj fell into the canal with his friend Deepak; Deepak died while Ramroop sustained head injuries.
• Another incident: Harsh Narayan of Tilakhwar, Lalganj, fell into the canal along with his car.
• 2024: Banshilal Adivasi from Chandi village died after falling into the canal with his brother-in-law.
• 2025: Pintu Adivasi of Chandi village died after his vehicle fell from the culvert into the canal.
• Sunday night: Anis Singh and Pradeep Kushwaha lost their lives.

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