Missing Korihar youth’s body found in Sai river

Wooden boats on a riverbank Image: Soumya Bhattacharjee / Pexels

What happened: Update. Single source. Only Dainik Bhaskar had reported the recovery at the time of filing, and we will add confirmation from other sources when available. An SDRF team pulled the body of the missing youth from Korihar village out of the Sai river at Sirsa Ghat on Monday, 2 November 2026. This was the third day of the search. The young man, from the Pure Koili hamlet of Korihar in the Gurubakhshganj police station area, went missing in the river on 31 October after a kalash yatra. Police took the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem. Our earlier report covered the search by SDRF and PAC teams on Sunday.

Why it matters: The recovery ends three days of waiting for the family and the village. SDRF and PAC teams worked with local police through the search. Sirsa Ghat and other ghats on the Sai draw large crowds for religious events, and the festival season is under way. Chhath falls between 13 and 16 November, when many families stand in rivers and ponds. Earlier reports differed on the youth’s age, and that gap has not been settled. We are not naming him, in line with our policy.

Honest opinion: Earlier Bhaskar reports said he went to the ghat to fill water after the yatra and slipped into a strong current. Rivers look calm from the bank but can run deep and fast near ghats. Reports so far do not mention warning boards, barricades, boats or trained divers at Sirsa Ghat during the kalash yatra. Local bodies that permit large gatherings at ghats can reduce risk with marked safe zones and a standby boat. Expect the administration to issue ghat safety advice before Chhath in the next two weeks. Our confidence in this view is medium.

What you should do: Under Uttar Pradesh rules, the family of a person who dies by drowning in a river can seek Rs 4 lakh in aid from the State Disaster Response Fund. The post-mortem report and panchnama are needed, so the family should keep copies and apply through the tehsil or SDM office. For disaster help, call the district control room on 1077 or dial 112. If you visit any ghat this season, stay in shallow water, keep children close and avoid bathing after dark.

Sources
Dainik Bhaskar, 2 November 2026, 12:48 PM IST, https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/raibareli/news/raebareli-sdrf-youth-drowned-sai-river-body-found-bsp-candidate-help-139567404.html
Dainik Bhaskar (background), 31 October 2026, 8:37 PM IST, https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/raibareli/korihar/news/raebareli-sai-river-drowning-accident-kalash-yatra-sdrf-search-139551658.html
Amar Ujala (background, drowning aid rules), 26 June 2025, https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/maharajganj/financial-assistance-of-rs-4-lakh-is-given-in-case-of-death-due-to-drowning-or-snake-bite-maharajganj-news-c-206-1-go11002-152813-2025-06-26

Image: Soumya Bhattacharjee / Pexels

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