Body discovered of Indian 'Houdini' after tragic trick in the river Ganges

An Indian magician who disappeared after being lowered into a river while shackled has drowned, police confirmed.

Chanchal Lahiri was trying to recreate Harry Houdini’s famous escapist feat but did not emerge from into the River Hooghly, a distributary of the Ganges in West Bengal state.

The magician was meant to break free and swim to the surface when he attempted the trick on Sunday.

His body washed up around 1km from the site and was identified late on Monday.

Mr Lahiri, also known as Jadugar Mandrake, was tied up with six locks, chains and rope before he was dropped into the river from a boat.

He told reporters before the event: “The magic we are going to do today is so risky.

"First my hands will be tied behind my back with a rope. My legs will also be bound by a thick rope.

“My whole body will be in chains. There will be six locks.”

People gathered on two boats, and several people lined the shore and the landmark Howrah Bridge in Kolkata to watch the display.

The crowd started to panic after Mr Lahiri did not appear after more than 10 minutes, the Press Trust of India has reported.

Police and a team of divers then began their search.

Jayanta Shaw, a photographer with a local newspaper who witnessed Mr Lahiri attempting the trick, said he spoke to the magician beforehand.

“I asked him why he risked his life for magic,” Mr Shaw told the BBC. “He smiled and said, ‘If I do it right, it’s magic. If I make a mistake, it becomes tragic.”

The magician told him that he wanted to do this trick in order "to revive interest in magic".

This is not the first time Mr Lahiri has attempted a risky underwater trick .

He was lowered into the same river inside a glass box more than 20 years ago, but had managed to escape to safety.

Mr Shaw also witnessed Mr Lahiri's previous underwater trick. He said: "I never thought he would not come out of the water this time.”

Mr Lahiri had sought permission from the Kolkata Police and Kolkata Port Trust before performing his trick, according to Press Trust of India,

However, he did not tell them the trick would have a "connection with water", police have said.

"He had mentioned the act was to happen in a boat or vessel... hence we allowed him permission. He vaguely mentioned an 'extra act' which we did not clarify," said a police officer who was not identified.

"We are investigating."