UP man swept away by crocodile during mother-in-law's funeral rites at Saryu river

Gonda, UP,UPDATED: May 21, 2026 11:09 IST

A 30-year-old man was attacked and dragged into the Saryu River by a crocodile while bathing on its banks in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. He has not been found since.

Deepak Sharma, a resident of Greater Noida, had travelled to Umri village in Gonda district following the death of his mother-in-law, Urmila Devi.

After helping dig a pit to prepare the funeral pyre at the riverbank, he went to bathe in the river. A crocodile emerged from the water, clamped its jaws around his head, and dragged him away. Witnesses said the attack happened within seconds.

Eyewitness Rajesh Shukla told reporters that those present at the funeral had advised Sharma not to enter the river, but he ignored the warning.

The screams of onlookers drew a crowd, and villagers along with local boatmen immediately launched a search. However, by late evening, there was still no trace of Sharma.

Local police and district officials reached the spot soon after the incident, and a search operation was carried out by the revenue department team as well, but without success.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has been called in from Lucknow to intensify the search operation.

As the family and villagers await the team’s arrival, Sharma’s body has not yet been recovered.

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