Teenagers jump into Yamuna river from NH-2 bridge, video goes viral

AGRA: A group of unidentified boys from Itmad-ud-Daula and Jeoni Mandi localities in Agra were caught on camera jumping off a bridge as the traffic passes by them on the Yamuna river.
The video went viral on Monday morning on WhatsApp group, but no inquiry was ordered in the incident.
The hair-raising video showed the moment when four boys, aged between 9-12 years, risked their lives by lining up on 20 feet high iron grill fence on over 40 feet high ‘water works bridge’ on national highway-II (NH-2) and dodge death by jumping into the river, which was flowing with strong current.
However, in the video, none of the teenagers were found injured. A similar kind of video had gone viral in the month of July when seven teenagers of Ghaziabad jumped off a rail overbridge as a train approached on the Upper Ganga Canal.
As per conservative estimate, in Agra over 100 people, mostly teenagers, have died in various water bodies in the district in last 20 months. Major casualties were reported from Yamuna River.

As per data provided by Agra police only 14 people died by drowning in Agra in the year 2014, which is way less than the actual casualties which had beereported in local media over a period of time.
Speaking to TOI on the incident, deputy superintendent of police and circle office of Chatta, Bijendra Singh Tyagi, said, “It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children do not perform such stunt or swim in river which has taken so many lives in past.”
He said, “At present, we have not deployed any men to keep tab on the ‘water works bridge’ for such incidents, as there is already 20 feet high fence over the bridge, to prevent people and children from jumping into the river.”
Local residents from the area, however, said there was very little they could do as youngsters from nearby areas often came for swimming and diving in the river and to indulge in different acts of ‘daredevilry’.
Mukesh Kulshrestha, resident of Jeoni mandi, said, “The river is frequented by boys from nearby areas and they perform such stunts from 60 feet high as they are well acquainted with it and have been born and brought up here. There have been incidents when some boys have drowned, but that failed to deter the youngsters.”?