Wife is a Judge, Brother is an IAS Officer... Deputy Director Drowns in Ganga as Friends Couldn’t Pay ₹10,000 for Rescue

In a tragic incident in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, Adityavardhan Singh, the brother of an IAS officer and husband of a judge, drowned in the Ganga River while a local rescuer allegedly demanded money before attempting to save him. The incident has raised serious questions about the ethics and humanity of the rescuer involved.

Incident Details

The incident occurred at Nanamau Ghat in Bilhaur, Unnao, on Saturday. Adityavardhan Singh, 45, who was serving as a Deputy Director in the Health Department in Varanasi, had gone to the Ganga River for a holy dip with his friends, Pradeep Tiwari and Yogeshwar Mishra. While bathing, Singh ventured into deep waters and began to drown.

Rescuer's Alleged Demands

According to eyewitnesses, as Singh struggled in the water, his friend Pradeep Tiwari called out to a local diver for help. However, the diver, identified as Shailesh Kashyap, reportedly demanded ₹10,000 for the rescue before agreeing to act. Despite Tiwari’s desperate pleas and his immediate transfer of the money via phone, the diver allegedly delayed his actions, waiting for the payment to be confirmed.

By the time the money was transferred and the diver moved to help, it was too late. Singh had already drowned, and his body remained missing despite extensive search efforts by local authorities, including PAC and SDRF teams. The search continued until 6 PM on Saturday, but the operation had to be halted due to darkness. The search was scheduled to resume on Sunday morning.

Family Background

Adityavardhan Singh was a native of Kabirpur village in the Bangarmau area and resided in Indiranagar, Lucknow. He was the cousin of Anupam Singh, a senior IAS officer and the private secretary to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Singh’s wife, Shreya Mishra, is a judge in Akola, Maharashtra, and his cousin, Yogendra Singh Neeraj, is a PPS officer and DSP at the Guru Gorakhnath Temple Circle in Gorakhpur.

Singh’s sister, who holds a high-ranking position in Australia, was also informed of the incident, and his parents, who were visiting her in Australia, have since begun their journey back to India.

Controversy and Response

The incident has sparked outrage, with questions being raised about the conduct of the rescuer. Shailesh Kashyap, in a statement, claimed that he had returned the money after the incident and denied any wrongdoing. However, Pradeep Tiwari, who witnessed the event, insisted that the diver’s delay in action cost Singh his life.

Local MLA Shrikant Katiyar and senior officials from the Kanpur administration rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue operations and assess the situation. The involvement of the NDRF was also requested by Singh’s family members in a desperate bid to recover his body.

Police and Legal Actions

As the search for Adityavardhan Singh’s body continues, there are growing calls for legal action against the rescuer, with many questioning whether his conduct constitutes criminal negligence. The police are expected to investigate the matter thoroughly, and further updates are awaited as the situation develops.

This heartbreaking incident has not only highlighted the dangers posed by deep waters but also the moral responsibilities of those who are in a position to save lives. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the preciousness of human life and the need for compassion and urgency in rescue operations.