A day after 32-year-old Suresh Lodhi was swept away in an open drain in Lucknow’s Thakurganj area, his body was recovered on Sunday morning near the Cattle Colony, following an intense 27-hour-long search operation.
The search began shortly after the tragic incident occurred around 7 am on Saturday, when Suresh, a paan shop owner and father of three, fell into an overflowing drain. He had reportedly stepped on a broken slab, which gave way under the pressure of heavy rainfall.
SDRF's Operation To Recover The Body
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and Suez India participated in the exhaustive search effort that concluded with the recovery of his body. The police have sent the body for post-mortem examination.
The incident sparked widespread outrage in the area, with locals alleging that the accident was the result of gross negligence by civic authorities. Residents blocked roads in protest, expressing anger over the delayed emergency response and repeated complaints that were allegedly ignored.
According to Suresh’s wife, the family had flagged the issue of the broken slab multiple times, but no action was taken. The tragic outcome has intensified calls for accountability from municipal officials.
UP CM Adityanath Offers Aid
Taking note of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to Suresh Lodhi’s family from the CM Relief Fund.
Senior leaders, including Dinesh Sharma, MLA Neeraj Bora, and Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G, are scheduled to visit the bereaved family to offer condolences and assess the situation on the ground.
The incident has reignited conversations around urban infrastructure lapses and public safety in flood-prone areas, especially during the monsoon season. Residents continue to demand swift and decisive action to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.