New Delhi / Jadugar Mandrake tied in chains enters Ganga for stunt, goes missing

An Indian stuntman who entered the Ganges river while tied up with steel chains and rope is missing after a failed trick.  

Chanchal Lahiri, known by his stage name 'Jadugar Mandrake' (Wizard Mandrake), was lowered into the river by crane as family members, media and police watched from the banks. 

Before his trick he said: 'If I can free myself it will be magic, if I cannot it will be tragic.' 

But the 40-year-old failed to emerge from the water, triggering a frantic search by authorities.

'We are still searching,' a family member told AFP.

Lahiri earlier said he had successfully pulled off a similar stunt 21 years ago at the same venue.

'I was inside a bullet proof glass box tied with chain and locks and dropped down from Howrah bridge. Then I came out within 29 seconds,' he told AFP.

He admitted it would be tough to free himself this time.

When Lahiri tried the stunt at the river in 2013, he was assaulted by onlookers who saw through his escape from a locked cage via a door that was clearly visible.

He claimed he would be lowered 30 feet underwater in a locked steel cage that he would escape from. 

Although he did resurface in six seconds, the crowd of thousands of fans claimed they could easily tell how he had got out of the cage.

Lahiri was mobbed by the crowd and had his wig pulled while he was being pushed around.