Lucknow: The dangerous trend of getting noticed on social media through unusual videos turned into a misadventure for a group of teenagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district.
One youngster was killed and two injured after they climbed a dilapidated overhead water tank to shoot a reel. However, two others got lucky as they were rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on Sunday after being stuck all night.
“The incident occurred when five teenagers climbed a 50-60-foot high overhead water tank in Kanshi Ram residential colony around 2.30 pm to shoot a social media reel. While descending, around 6 pm, the rusted iron ladder of the dilapidated structure collapsed, causing three of them to fall. The villagers made an SOS call to the local police,” Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Gaurav Srivastava said.
Thirteen-year-old Siddharth succumbed to severe head injuries sustained in the fall. Pawan (13) and Golu were critically injured, and are undergoing treatment at Madhav Prasad Tripathi Medical College.
The duo of Shani and Kallu, stuck atop the tank, were airlifted from the top of the structure in a nine-minute rescue operation.
They were taken to Gorakhpur and admitted to the Air Force Hospital for treatment.
“The district administration held a meeting with the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF). The SDRF assessed the situation and said that the structure was weak and a rescue operation would be risky. The district administration then sought the help of the Air Force,” Srivastava added.
Responding to the request from state government authorities, a helicopter of Central Air Command (CAC) was deployed to rescue the two stranded boys.
“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,” IAF posted on X along with videos and photos.
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… pic.twitter.com/dZ2D4shbQS
— CAC, IAF (@CAC_CPRO) May 3, 2026
“Chief Minister’s Office and Relief Commissioner Uttar Pradesh Dr Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod were in telephonic conversation, and both youths stranded on the water tank near the Kaashiram Awas were successfully rescued by the Indian Air Force using an MI 17 helicopter this morning,” said Shivasharanappa GN, District Magistrate of Sidharthnagar.
“Prima facie, the incident occurred due to the collapse of a rusted ladder. The boys had climbed the tank to record a social media reel. Further investigation is underway,” Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar said.