A local photographer by the name of Jayant Shaw told BBC that he spoke to the gentleman before his attempted trick.
"I asked him why he risked his life for magic," Shaw said. "He [Mr Lahiri] smiled and said, 'If I do it right, it's magic. If I make a mistake, it becomes tragic.'"
This isn’t the first time Lahiri has attempted a potentially life threatening trick. Twenty years ago he was lowered into the same river but managed to survive.
"I never thought he would not come out of the water this time," Shaw, who also witnessed this trick said.