Giridih: Class 11 girl Payal Kumari's body found near Usri river after 2 days missing
Synopsis
A Class 11 girl who left home for tuition classes on Monday was found dead near the Usri river in Giridih two days later. Her phone went silent hours after she last spoke to her family — and the postmortem result will now determine whether this is a case of foul play or something else entirely.
Key Takeaways
Payal Kumari , a Class 11 student from Sirsia, Giridih , was found dead near the Usri river on 20 May .
She had been missing since Monday morning after leaving home for tuition and stitching classes.
Her last known contact was a phone call to family from the block office area on Monday afternoon, after which her phone was switched off.
The body was discovered near the Barganda old bridge and sent for postmortem examination.
Cousin Pintu Kumar Das has demanded a fair probe and strict action against those responsible.
Sadar SDPO Jeetbahan Oraon confirmed all angles are being investigated; mobile call records are under scrutiny.
The body of Payal Kumari, a Class 11 student who had been missing for two days, was recovered from the bank of the Usri river near the Barganda old bridge in Giridih district, Jharkhand, on Wednesday, 20 May, according to officials. The discovery has triggered widespread panic in the area and prompted demands for a thorough investigation.
How Payal Went Missing
According to her family, Payal Kumari, a resident of Sirsia under the Muffasil police station limits, left home on Monday morning saying she was headed for tuition classes and stitching training. She also worked as a part-time teacher for younger children in the neighbourhood. She typically returned home by afternoon, but failed to do so that day.
Family members said Payal contacted them by phone that afternoon, stating she was leaving the block office area and would soon be home. Shortly after that call, her mobile phone was switched off. Repeated attempts to reach her went unanswered, prompting the family to begin searching independently before lodging a missing persons report with the police later that evening.
Body Recovered on Wednesday Morning
Police received information on Wednesday morning about an unidentified body of a young woman lying near the Usri river, close to the Barganda old bridge. Officers reached the spot and identified the deceased as Payal Kumari. The body has been taken into custody and sent for postmortem examination.
As news of the recovery spread, a large number of residents gathered at the site. Family members were reported to be inconsolable. Pintu Kumar Das, the deceased's cousin, has publicly demanded a fair investigation and strict action against those found responsible.
Police Response and Investigation
Sadar SDPO Jeetbahan Oraon and police officer Vivek Madhuri visited the scene and inspected the area. SDPO Oraon confirmed that a missing persons report had already been registered and stated that all angles are being examined. Investigators had earlier begun analysing Payal's mobile call records and had questioned her friends and acquaintances as part of preliminary inquiries.
What Happens Next
The postmortem report is expected to provide critical clarity on the cause of death, which will determine the direction of the investigation. Authorities have not yet ruled out any angle. The case has drawn attention to the safety of young women in Giridih, and local residents are pressing for swift answers from the administration.
Point of View
The call records, and who she was last seen with matter just as much. Cases like this in smaller Jharkhand districts frequently stall after the initial flurry of police activity; the family's demand for accountability is a signal that the community will be watching. The pattern of young women going missing while undertaking routine activities — school, tuition, training — recurs with troubling frequency in the region, yet systemic responses remain thin. Whether this is treated as an isolated incident or prompts a broader safety audit will say much about local administration's priorities.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Payal Kumari and where was she from?
Payal Kumari was a Class 11 student and resident of Sirsia village under the Muffasil police station limits in Giridih district, Jharkhand. She also worked part-time as a teacher for younger children in her neighbourhood.
When and where was Payal Kumari's body found?
Her body was recovered on Wednesday, 20 May, from the bank of the Usri river near the Barganda old bridge in Giridih. Police identified her at the spot and sent the body for postmortem examination.
What were the circumstances of her disappearance?
Payal left home on Monday morning saying she was going for tuition classes and stitching training. She last spoke to her family that afternoon, saying she was leaving the block office area. Her phone was switched off shortly after, and she never returned home.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have registered a missing persons report, recovered the body, and sent it for postmortem. Investigators are examining Payal's mobile call records and have questioned her friends and acquaintances. Sadar SDPO Jeetbahan Oraon has said all angles are being explored.
What has the family demanded?
The deceased's cousin, Pintu Kumar Das, has demanded a fair and thorough investigation and strict action against those found responsible for her death.
