IAF Helicopter Rescues Teens After Fatal Fall from Dilapidated Water Tank in Uttar Pradesh
A tragic incident highlighting the perils of dangerous social media activities occurred when a teenager died and two others were critically injured after a rusted ladder gave way on a decrepit overhead water tank. Two more teenagers were left stranded atop the structure for nearly 16 hours before being rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter in a precision operation at dawn.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon in the Kanshi Ram residential colony, also known as Kanshiram Awasiy Colony, located in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh. Between 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm, five teenagers—Siddharth (13), Pawan (13), Golu, Shani (11), and Kallu (14)—climbed the 50 to 60-foot-high government water tank, long neglected and in a state of disrepair for about 30 years, to create a social media reel.
As they began descending around 6:00 pm, the corroded iron ladder collapsed, resulting in three of the teenagers falling from a considerable height. Siddharth died instantly from severe head injuries. Pawan and Golu were gravely injured and were swiftly taken to Madhav Prasad Tripathi Medical College for emergency care; they are reportedly now out of danger. Shani and Kallu were left trapped on the platform at the top of the tank, unable to descend safely due to the damaged ladder.
Concerned local villagers alerted authorities, leading to immediate action by the police and district administration. Ground-based rescue operations were coordinated with the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). However, the structure's instability precluded the use of ladders or scaffolding, and heavy rainfall starting around 3:00 am on Sunday further complicated access efforts.
District Magistrate Shivsharanappa GN liaised with senior officials, including the Chief Minister’s Office and the Relief Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh. Upon request from state government authorities, the IAF dispatched an Mi-17 V5 helicopter from its Central Air Command (CAC). The helicopter arrived at approximately 5:20 am on Sunday, May 3, 2026. In a rapid and efficient operation lasting nine to 15 minutes, IAF personnel successfully winched Shani and Kallu to safety using specialized equipment. They were then airlifted to an Air Force Hospital in Gorakhpur for medical assessment.
The Indian Air Force issued an official statement on social media confirming the operation: “On a request from state government authorities, an IAF Mi-17 V5 of Central Air Command (CAC) was deployed to rescue two stranded children, who were stuck on top of a water tank in Sidharth Nagar in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The children were stranded in the night as the ladder of the water tank was damaged. The rescue mission, yet again, displays the IAF’s professionalism and commitment to save lives with a swift response in times of need.”
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Gaurav Srivastava verified the sequence of events, highlighting ongoing resident complaints about the tank's hazardous state, which had not been addressed despite repeated warnings. Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar stated that a preliminary investigation has pointed to the collapse of the rusted ladder as the cause of the incident, with further investigations underway.
This event has reignited concerns regarding the dangers of engaging in reckless activities for social media attention.
