A young thrill-seeker is feared dead after jumping into a fast-moving river for a £4 bet. Mohd Junaid, 19, was swept away after throwing himself into the rushing Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, India.
He had accepted the £4 (500 rupee) wager from friends, before clambering over the railings of the bridge and launching himself into the torrent. The video footage shows murky, fast-flowing waters surged just a few feet below.
Spectators could be heard cheering him on as he takes on the stunt. The teen was dressed in a white vest and blue jeans.
He desperately tried to swim back to shore, but the forceful current dragged him downstream. After swimming for some time, the presumably exhausted teen then appeared to vanish under the water. The footage has since gone viral on social media.
Despite desperate rescue efforts, Junaid has not been found. Police, divers and the State Disaster Response Force have been scrambled to search the river, since the incident.
Officials said rising water levels, worsened by continuous monsoon rain, have blighted operations.
According to cops, Junaid and his friends had been hanging out on the riverbank when the bet was made. Investigators are now investigating the role of those who encouraged him and filmed the tragedy. Police confirmed that a case will be filed against his friends.
“This kind of negligence will not be tolerated,” one official said, as quoted by TV9, warning of the serious consequences of encouraging such dangerous stunts.