UP Reel Stunt Turns Tragic: One Teen Dead, Two Rescued By IAF After Overnight Ordeal

A risky social media stunt in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district turned tragic after five teenagers climbed an old water tank to shoot a reel, leading to a fatal accident and a complex overnight rescue. Two youths who remained stranded atop the structure were eventually rescued by the Indian Air Force after nearly 16 hours.

Air Force Carries Out Swift Early Morning Rescue

An Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter from Central Air Command was deployed following a request from state authorities. The aircraft reached Kanshiram Awasiy Colony at around 5:20 am and completed the rescue in a brief 15-minute operation. The stranded youths were safely airlifted and taken to Gorakhpur.

Senior officials, including the District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Additional Superintendent of Police, SDM and CO Sadar, were present at the site during the operation. Teams from the electricity department, municipal administration, district authorities and the National Disaster Response Force were also deployed.

"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," said the Indian Air Force in a social media post.

Rescue Efforts Hampered by Rainfall

Before calling in aerial support, authorities had attempted to create an alternative access route so that NDRF vehicles could reach the spot. However, rainfall that began around 3:00 am disrupted the work and made ground rescue efforts difficult, prompting officials to seek assistance from the Air Force.

Reel Attempt Turns Fatal

The incident unfolded around 1:00 pm when five youths climbed the water tank to record a social media reel. During the attempt, the ladder of the structure broke, causing three of them to fall from a height.

One of the teenagers, identified as Siddharth, died in the fall. Two others, Shani and Golu, sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at Madhav Prasad Tripathi Medical College. Officials said they are out of danger.

Two Left Stranded for Hours

The remaining two youths, identified as Pawan and Kallu, were left stranded at the top of the tank after the accident. With no safe way to descend and darkness setting in, they remained stuck overnight until the rescue operation was carried out at dawn.

The incident has once again raised concerns about dangerous stunts being performed for social media content, often without regard for safety risks.