Six-year-old missing after father jumps with kids in Shahdara drain

NOIDA: In a failed suicide bid, a 32-year jobless man allegedly jumped into the Shahdara drain in Sector 15 A along with his two kids on Sunday evening. However, a change of heart at the last moment helped save his two-year-old daughter who hung up to him and the man himself while his six-year-old son has not been traced even after 24 hours of the incident .
Dharmendra Kashyap, who used to work at an eat-out in the TGIP Mall had lost the job two years back and was under pressure from the family to find a job.
His wife Priya (25) told TOI that around 7 pm on Sunday, Dharmendra said that he wants to take the kids to the mata ki chowki that was being organised in the community centre of Sector 15.
Upon reaching the bridge over the Shahdara drain between Sector 15 and Sector 15 A, Dharmendra threw Mayank into the drain first, followed by his daughter Eshu and himself.
However, as soon as he jumped into the drain with five feet deep water, the toddler clutched to her father, leading to a sudden change of heart.
He walked to the bank of the drain along with the daughter and later entered the drain again to save his son but to no avail.
A crane driver witnessing the incident informed the police after which a team of five divers was called to search for the child.
However, the child could not be traced in the drain in which the water pressure was considerably high.
While the father-daughter duo survived, six-year-old Mayank has not be traced so far despite repeated searches by the divers hired by the family.
Meanwhile, an aggrieved Priya has lodged a complaint against her husband in the Sector 20 police station.
In her complaint, she has said that she is being threatened by her father-in-law Virendra Kashyap who is holding a government job in the UP Resident Commissioner's Office in Delhi and her in-laws have not taken any action in the matter.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra’s family, mother and father said that they never pressurized him for a job.
Police have detained Dharmendra but is yet to lodge an FIR in the matter.