Diglipur: A routine bath turned tragic in North Andaman after a young man, identified as Anil Manjhi of R.K. Gram, drowned in Magar Nallah near the foothills of Saddle Peak, sending shockwaves through the local community. According to preliminary reports, Manjhi had entered the water stream flowing between R.K. Gram and the Diglipur Panchayat area when he reportedly slipped and fell into a deeper stretch of the stream. He could not surface after the incident.
An alert was raised soon after, following which personnel from the Diglipur Police and Revenue Department, along with local villagers, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. After sustained efforts, the rescuers located and retrieved his body from the stream bed.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with bathing or entering local streams and nallahs, particularly where variations in depth and water flow may not be readily visible.
Magar Nallah is a recognised watercourse in the Diglipur area and forms part of the local drainage and water network. Official records also identify Magar Nallah among the water bodies in the Diglipur region.
Authorities have initiated the necessary legal and procedural formalities. Forensic personnel have been notified, while an investigation is under way to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Manjhi’s death.
The body is expected to undergo the prescribed medico-legal examination, following which further details may emerge regarding the cause of death. The tragedy has also prompted concern among residents over the need for greater public awareness about the potential dangers of bathing in natural streams, especially during periods when water levels and currents can change rapidly.
