UP water tank rescue: Air Force airlifts 2 children on CM Yogi's orders in Siddharthnagar
Synopsis
Five teenagers climbed an abandoned water tank in Siddharthnagar to shoot social media reels — the ladder broke, one died, two were injured, and two were left stranded on top. It took a direct intervention by CM Yogi Adityanath and an Indian Air Force helicopter from Gorakhpur to bring the surviving trapped children down safely.
Key Takeaways
Five teenagers climbed an abandoned water tank in Belasad Tappa Tharouli village, Siddharthnagar to film social media reels on Saturday .
The ladder broke during descent — one child died , two were injured , and two remained trapped on the rooftop.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally directed officials to contact the Indian Air Force for the rescue.
District Magistrate Shivsharanappa GN formally requested the helicopter from the Relief Commissioner, which was approved immediately.
Waterlogging made heavy machinery unusable; an Air Force helicopter from Gorakhpur airlifted both trapped children safely on Sunday morning .
Two children trapped atop an abandoned water tank in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, were safely airlifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter on Sunday, following a rescue operation personally monitored by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's office. The incident, which began on Saturday when five teenagers climbed the dilapidated structure to film social media reels, turned fatal after a ladder broke — killing one child and injuring two others.
What Happened at Belasad Tappa Tharouli Village
The incident took place at a water tank in Belasad Tappa Tharouli village of Navgarh tehsil in Siddharthnagar. Five teenagers had climbed the abandoned tank to record short-form video content for social media. When they attempted to descend, the ladder gave way, sending three of them falling to the ground. One child died from the fall, while two others sustained injuries. The remaining two were stranded on the rooftop of the structure with no way down.
CM Yogi's Direct Intervention
As soon as the Chief Minister's office received information about the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took immediate cognisance and issued clear instructions to officials that no negligence would be tolerated in rescuing the trapped children. On his directions, the Indian Air Force was contacted and formally requested to assist. District, police, and disaster management teams were simultaneously deployed to the site.
Rescue Challenges and Air Force Response
District Magistrate Shivsharanappa GN assessed the situation and formally requested a helicopter from the Relief Commissioner, which was approved without delay. However, the rescue operation faced significant on-ground challenges. Waterlogging around the tank had rendered the surrounding soil swampy, making it impossible to deploy heavy machinery such as JCBs and cranes. After local efforts proved inadequate, an Air Force helicopter was requisitioned from Gorakhpur. It reached the site on Sunday morning and successfully airlifted both trapped children to safety.
Broader Concern Over Social Media Reel Culture
This incident is among a growing number of accidents across India linked to teenagers and young adults attempting dangerous stunts for social media content. Notably, abandoned or dilapidated infrastructure — such as old water tanks and bridges — has repeatedly featured in such incidents, raising questions about the safety of unmaintained public structures in rural areas. Authorities have not yet indicated whether any action will be taken regarding the condition of the tank or access restrictions to the site.
What Happens Next
The two rescued children are reported to be safe following the airlift. The two injured children are receiving medical attention, while the death of the third child is under official record. Authorities are expected to review the state of abandoned public infrastructure in the district in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Point of View
And it reflects both the political optics around governance delivery and a genuine urgency that local machinery could not meet. The second layer is structural: abandoned public infrastructure sitting unguarded in rural Uttar Pradesh is not a new problem, and this tragedy is unlikely to be the last unless access to such structures is actively restricted. The social media reel angle will dominate coverage, but the harder question — why a dilapidated water tank was accessible to children in the first place — deserves equal scrutiny.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Siddharthnagar water tank?
Five teenagers climbed an abandoned water tank in Belasad Tappa Tharouli village, Siddharthnagar, to film social media reels. The ladder broke as they tried to descend — one child died, two were injured, and two were left stranded on the rooftop until rescued by the Indian Air Force on Sunday.
How were the trapped children rescued?
An Indian Air Force helicopter, requisitioned from Gorakhpur on CM Yogi Adityanath's instructions, airlifted both trapped children safely on Sunday morning. Waterlogging around the tank had made ground-based heavy machinery unusable, necessitating the aerial rescue.
What role did CM Yogi Adityanath play in the rescue?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took direct cognisance of the incident and instructed officials to contact the Indian Air Force for assistance. The rescue operation was monitored by his office, with the district administration, police, and disaster management teams also deployed on his directions.
Who approved the Air Force helicopter request?
District Magistrate Shivsharanappa GN assessed the situation and formally requested a helicopter from the Relief Commissioner. The request was approved immediately, and the Air Force was contacted through official channels on CM Yogi's instructions.
Why could local rescue teams not reach the trapped children?
Waterlogging around the base of the abandoned water tank had turned the surrounding ground swampy, making it impossible to deploy heavy machinery like JCBs or cranes. After local efforts failed, the Indian Air Force was brought in to carry out the airlift.
