Residents Search For Fish During Dam Repair In Blitar Died, Bodies Handed Over To Families

Officers evacuated the victim who died while looking for fish at a "flushing" event held at the Wlingi Dam and Lodoyo, Blitar Regency, East Java, Sunday (27/4/2025). ANTARA/HO-Blitar Police

JATIM - The Blitar Resort Police (Polres) handled the dead while looking for fish during a "flushing" activity or defelcation of the Wlingi and Lodoyo Dam sediments, Blitar Regency, East Java (East Java).

Head of the Public Relations Section of the Blitar Police, Ipda Putut Siswahyudi, said the victim, KSN (67), a resident of Serut Hamlet, Gogodoso Village, Kanigoro District, Blitar Regency.

"This victim was looking for fish on the banks of the Brantas River in Serut Hamlet because there was an 'flushing' activity by Jasa Tirta. Suddenly the victim fell by embracing the person in front of him," he said in Blitar, Sunday, April 27, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said the witness to the incident helped the victim by stretching on the ground, but the victim was known to have died.

He said that based on witness testimony, the victim was looking for fish for about 30 minutes. At that time, the victim was looking for fish by passing through or throwing himself in hard mud.

His party estimates that the victim reached when he was looking for fish and died.

"While looking for fish, the victim passed or threw in hard mud. It is estimated that the victim was reached because of a place to look for muddy fish," he said.

Witnesses and other residents also immediately contacted the police and medical officers in the Jasa Tirta area. Officers went straight to the location and evacuated the victim's body.

Medical officers also examined the victim's body and found no signs of abuse. After completing the medical and other administration examinations, the body was handed over to the family.

Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT) I did a patching at the Wlingi Dam and Lodoyo, Blitar Regency to reduce sedimentation so that the reservoir capacity was maximized.

This activity is for one week, namely April 27 to May 3, 2025. In its realization, the floodgates of the Wlingi and Lodoyo Dams are all opened in the hope that the patching will be more optimal.

Vice President of Regional 1 Perum Jasa Tirta I Ganindra Adi Cahyono asked the public to be careful. Usually, when patching, many people use it by looking for fish because it is easy to catch, but on the other hand, water discharge flows high.

"Of course, this local wisdom must be accompanied by caution and vigilance because the discharge flows in the river and is very large and fast. The speed can be washed away by people so that it can cause losses that we do not want," he said.