Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 11 (ANI): Congress MLA Sachin Pilot expressed deep sorrow over a tragic incident where eight people drowned in the Banas River in the Tonk district of Rajasthan on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a group of people from Jaipur, who had come for a picnic, slipped while trying to save each other.

While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pilot said, 'This is a very sad incident. These people had come here from Jaipur for a picnic...While trying to save each other, they slipped and 8 people died...'

The Congress leader assured that the administration would provide financial assistance to the families and suggested that a technical team conduct a survey and establish checkpoints.

'The administration will provide financial help to their families. To prevent such incidents, a survey should be conducted by sending a technical team and checkpoints should be made.' Pilot stated.

Earlier, Sachin Pilot called the incident 'extremely sad and heartbreaking' in a social media post on X

'The news of the death of some youths from Jaipur who had come to visit Tonk due to drowning in the Banas river is extremely sad and heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the young men who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them the strength to bear this pain,' Sachin Pilot said.'Some youths have been rescued safely by the administration. Also, the district administration and police officials have been directed to provide all possible help to the families affected by this tragedy,' he added.

According to the police, a group of 11 people from Jaipur had gone for a picnic on the riverbank when some of them entered the water to bathe and slipped into a deep stretch of the river. Efforts by others in the group to rescue them also turned tragic. Tonk Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan said that three people were rescued in the incident, while eight others lost their lives.

Rajasthan Leader of Opposition, Tika Ram Jully, also condoled the death of the eight people in the drowning incident.'The news of the tragic death of 8 people due to drowning in the Banas river in Tonk is extremely sad and unfortunate. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the family members to bear this sorrow. I wish that the missing persons are found safely,' Jully wrote in a social media post on X.

Earlier, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma condoled the loss of lives and said rescue operations were initiated as soon as authorities received information.

In a post on X, Sharma wrote, 'The news of the deaths due to drowning in the Banas river located in Tonk district is extremely sad and painful. As soon as the information about the incident was received, the district administration officials were instructed to conduct rescue and relief operations immediately.' 'I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow,' he added. (ANI)