Lucknow: A jewellery trader from Lucknow is feared to have drowned in a river while bathing at Ghaurhar Ghat in Jauras village of Barabanki district on Raksha Bandhan on Friday, police said.They said Lal Ji Rastogi of Gosaiganj in Lucknow had been staying at his maternal aunt’s house in the village for the past 15 days along with his son. On Raksha Bandhan, he went to Ghaurhar Ghat to take a dip in the river.While bathing, he allegedly slipped into deeper waters and was swept away by the strong current. Locals, who witnessed the incident, launched a search operation but failed to trace him. The police were subsequently informed.Police and administrative officials reached the spot and took stock of the situation. A team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was later pressed into service.SDRF personnel carried out an extensive search operation and are scanning locations where Rastogi may have been swept by the current. However, no trace of him had been found till the filing of this report.The administration has urged visitors to rivers and ghats to exercise caution, avoid venturing into deep waters and follow safety advisories.
