15-Year-Old Drowns at Damanganga Riverfront After Falling into Water While Taking Selfie

A 15-year-old girl drowned in the Damanganga river at the Silvassa riverfront on Saturday evening after losing her balance while taking a selfie near a check dam during an Independence Day family outing.

Fire brigade personnel recovered the body of the deceased, identified as Kajalkumari, on Sunday morning following an overnight search operation that was halted briefly due to darkness.

Tragic Accident During Holiday Outing

The incident took place when Jitendra Ram, a resident of Masat village in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, visited Nakshatra Garden in Silvassa alongside his wife Madhuri, daughter Kajal and three other family members to mark the Independence Day holiday.

After visiting the garden, the family walked towards the adjacent Damanganga riverfront. 

She stepped close to the check dam perimeter to take a photograph on her mobile phone when she slipped into the swelling river currents. 

Her family raised an immediate alarm, drawing onlookers to the spot before alerting emergency services.

Search Operation and Safety Warnings

Teams from the Silvassa Fire Department and local police arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the call. Rescue workers scanned the riverbed until fading light forced them to suspend operations late Saturday evening. Divers resumed the search early Sunday morning and retrieved her body downstream.

Police took custody of the body and registered a case of accidental death.

The fatality occurs despite strict administrative prohibitions against bathing or taking selfies near riverbanks and sea coasts during the monsoon season. 

Authorities have repeatedly cautioned visitors against approaching water bodies, urging families to observe safety guidelines around slippery riverfront structures.