By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A nine-year-old boy from Delhi was swept away and drowned in the strong currents of the Ganga at Geeta Kutir Ghat near Haridwar in Uttarakhand on Thursday, officials said.
According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the incident occurred at around 3:15 pm when Kush Sharma, son of Mukesh Sharma and a resident of Rohini, Delhi, lost his balance while taking a dip in the river and was carried away by the fast-flowing water.
Upon receiving information about the incident, an SDRF team rushed to the spot and launched an intensive search and rescue operation. Deep divers were deployed to search probable locations in coordination with local police.
Officials said that despite extensive efforts, the missing child had not been traced so far.
Kush had reportedly come to Haripur Kalan with his family. During the incident, his brother Priyanshu Sharma also got caught in the river’s current while attempting to save him. However, local residents acted swiftly and managed to pull Priyanshu to safety. Kush, meanwhile, was swept away and disappeared in the river.
The SDRF said search operations are continuing to find the child.
Meanwhile, the SDRF appealed to pilgrims and tourists to avoid bathing at unfamiliar or prohibited ghats and use only designated and safe bathing areas. Authorities warned that the Ganga’s water level and flow can increase suddenly, posing a serious threat.
The agency also urged visitors to follow safety advisories issued by local authorities and refrain from venturing into deep or unsafe sections of rivers. Scores of people have been drowned in Ganga in the past few months in Uttarakhand.