In a tragic incident underscoring the dangers associated with hazardous social media activities, one teenager lost his life and two others sustained critical injuries following the collapse of a rusted ladder on a dilapidated overhead water tank. Two additional teenagers remained stranded atop the structure for nearly 16 hours overnight before being safely rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter in a precise dawn operation.
The event occurred on Saturday afternoon in Kanshi Ram residential colony (also referred to as Kanshiram Awasiy Colony) in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh. At approximately 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, five teenagers—Siddharth (13), Pawan (13), Golu, Shani (11), and Kallu (14)—ascended the approximately 50- to 60-foot-high government water tank, which had been in a neglected and dilapidated condition for around 30 years, to film a social media reel.
While descending around 6:00 pm, the rusted iron ladder collapsed, causing three of the teenagers to fall from a significant height. Siddharth succumbed immediately to severe head injuries. Pawan and Golu were critically injured and were promptly transported to Madhav Prasad Tripathi Medical College for emergency treatment; reports indicate they are now out of danger. Shani and Kallu remained trapped on the platform atop the tank, with no safe means of descent due to the damaged ladder.
Local villagers alerted authorities, prompting an immediate response from police and district administration. Ground-based rescue efforts, including coordination with the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were initiated. However, the structure was deemed too unstable for ladder or scaffolding operations. Attempts to construct an alternative access route were further hampered by heavy rainfall beginning around 3:00 am on Sunday.
District Magistrate Shivsharanappa GN coordinated with higher authorities, including the Chief Minister’s Office and the Relief Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh. On request from state government officials, the IAF deployed an Mi-17 V5 helicopter from its Central Air Command (CAC). The aircraft arrived at the site at approximately 5:20 am on Sunday, May 3, 2026. In a swift and professional operation lasting between nine and 15 minutes, IAF personnel winched Shani and Kallu to safety using specialised equipment. The two were subsequently airlifted to an Air Force Hospital in Gorakhpur for medical evaluation.
In an official statement posted on social media, the Indian Air Force affirmed: “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 confirmed the sequence of events and noted residents’ prior complaints regarding the tank’s hazardous condition, which had not been addressed despite repeated representations. Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar stated that a preliminary investigation attributes the incident to the collapse of the rusted ladder and indicated that further inquiries are ongoing.
This incident has renewed concerns about the risks posed by reckless stunts pursued for social media
