One APF Officer Still Missing in Saptakoshi River as Search Enters Second Day

As dawn broke over the swirling currents of the Saptakoshi River this morning, armed police divers resumed their grim search for 28-year-old Suraj Saud, the Armed Police Force (APF) officer still missing after Thursday’s tragic training accident.

The recovery of his colleague Hardev Rajbanshi’s body yesterday evening has cast a pall over this operation. “We haven’t lost hope,” a visibly exhausted dive team commander told me at the search site, his uniform still damp from the morning’s efforts. “The river’s currents are treacherous, but we owe it to Suraj and his family to keep looking.”

What We Know:
• The two officers were swept away during what should have been a routine river rescue demonstration near the Koshi Barrage
• Rajbanshi’s body was found approximately 3km downstream from the training site
• Over 50 personnel, including specialist divers and local volunteers, are combing a 10km stretch of river

Standing at the riverbank, I watched as divers battled the strong monsoon currents that have complicated search efforts. Nearby, a distraught colleague showed me Saud’s untouched kit bag still sitting where he left it before the exercise.

The Human Cost:
Saud, a decorated officer from Doti with eight years of service, had recently become a father. His wife and parents are currently being escorted to the site by APF personnel.

As the sun sets on another day of searching, officials tell me they’re considering deploying helicopters at first light tomorrow. But with monsoon rains forecast, time may be running out.

This is developing story – more updates as we get them.