Tonk (Rajasthan): A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday in Rajasthan’s Tonk district where eight people drowned in the Banas River, turning a picnic outing into a heartbreaking calamity.
The victims, all from Jaipur, were part of an eleven-member group that had gone to the river for a picnic. According to the police, some entered the river to bathe but slipped into a deeper section. Others who rushed to help also drowned, making the situation worse. Three persons were rescued from the waters, while eight lost their lives.
Tonk Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan confirmed the incident and said, “Efforts by other members of the group to save them unfortunately ended in tragedy.”
Reacting to the incident, Congress MLA Sachin Pilot expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
“This is a very sad incident. These people had come here from Jaipur for a picnic. While trying to save each other, they slipped and 8 people died,” Pilot said while speaking to reporters.
He further assured that the administration would extend financial assistance to the victims’ families and stressed the need for technical intervention to prevent such incidents.
“A technical team should be deployed to survey the area and necessary checkpoints should be established,” he added.
Pilot also posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling the tragedy “extremely sad and heartbreaking.”
“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the young men who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this pain,” he wrote.
Rajasthan Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully also mourned the deaths, stating:
“The news of the tragic death of 8 people due to drowning in the Banas river is extremely sad and unfortunate. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the family members.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma extended his condolences and confirmed that the administration initiated immediate rescue and relief operations.
“As soon as the information about the incident was received, the district officials were instructed to conduct rescue and relief operations immediately,” Sharma wrote on X.
The incident has sparked widespread mourning across the state and raised fresh concerns regarding safety measures at tourist and picnic spots near water bodies.
Investigation & Preventive Measures:
- Local administration plans to survey riverbank areas and set up warning signs and checkpoints.
- Financial compensation is expected to be announced soon for the affected families.
The matter remains under investigation as officials assess whether negligence or lack of safety infrastructure contributed to the tragedy.