NEW DELHI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Seven people drowned in river Ganga Monday in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.
The incident took place at village Gajraula in Amroha district, about 417 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
"A family arrived here to perform some ritual. Some young family members went inside the river to take a bath. However, seven of them drowned," a police official posted at Amroha told Xinhua.
"Five bodies have been found and search for the missing two is underway."
"The five bodies have been sent to hospital for post-mortem," the police official said.
Officials said top civil and police officials have reached the spot to oversee the search for the two missing.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives. "The Chief Minister has instructed to expedite the rescue operations to search for the missing persons," a government spokesman said.
Several parts in north and central India are currently in the grip of intense heatwave. To beat the heat, people in rural areas usually take bath in rivers and other water bodies, officials said.
