Himachal Pradesh: Picnic turns tragic as Bihar student drowns in Markanda river

Nahan: A joyful outing turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when a B Pharmacy student from Himalayan College, Kala Amb, drowned while bathing in the Markanda River in Sirmour District on Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, 22-year-old Yuvraj, a native of Bihar, had gone with his friends to Vikram Bagh by the river, hoping to enjoy a peaceful holiday.

What started as a day of laughter and fun ended in sorrow when Yuvraj stepped into a deep pool and got trapped in an unseen trench. Despite desperate attempts by his friends to pull him out, he could not be saved.

In shock and grief, the students immediately called the Kala Amb police, who reached the spot, recovered Yuvraj’s body, and sent it to Nahan Medical College for postmortem.

The Markanda River, known for its sudden deep trenches or "black spots", has claimed many lives in the past. Despite repeated warnings, young people continue to be drawn to its inviting waters, unaware of the hidden dangers beneath.

Confirming the incident, District Police Captain Nishchit Singh Negi expressed sorrow over the loss and urged the public to stay cautious near water bodies during the summer months.