Bharuch teen slips into Niagara River

SURAT: A 19-year-old boy from Bharuch slipped into the Niagara River where he had gone for hiking with his three friends on June 8.
Samir Siraj Nabipurwala, a resident of Sherpura village in Bharuch district, had gone to Canada for higher studies in the medical field about 18 months ago. He was studying in the second year at the Brock University in Ontario and living in St. Catharines.
According to the Niagara regional police and the Niagara Parks police, the incident occurred on June 8 at about 7.15 pm.“Investigation revealed that four males had gone for a hike and stopped to take photos on a rock. One of the males, slipped off the rock causing him to fall into the Niagara River. The area of the river the male fell into is very fast flowing with a strong current,” Niagara Regional Police Service said on its official website.
While the Niagara police have not disclosed the identity, a close relative of Samit, Idris Kasuji told TOI: “Samir went to Niagara River with his classmates to celebrate the birthday of one of his friends on June 8. He climbed up the rock to click a photo and slipped into the Niagara River.”
All the units of the Niagara response teams including police, fire department, coast guard, Erie -County Sheriff’s office, search and rescue helicopters were pressed into service to locate the whereabouts of the teen.
Kasuji said, “His body is yet to be recovered. We are in constant touch with his friends who were there with him when the incident occurred. The police don’t suspect any foul play. They claim that Samir had fallen into the river accidentally.”