New Delhi, July 29: Two individuals lost their lives and two remain unaccounted for after a group of four friends was carried away by strong currents in the Yamuna River near East Delhi’s Geeta Colony on Monday evening. Search and rescue crews scaled up efforts on Tuesday to locate the remaining missing men despite challenging river conditions.
According to family members, the group gathered in Gandhi Nagar before venturing toward the water near Zero Pusta Road for a swim. Shortly after stepping into the river, the men were caught in the powerful current, prompting immediate distress calls to local emergency services.
Responding to the scene, Fire Officer Deshpal declared, “Our teams from the Geeta Colony and Laxmi Nagar fire stations reached the spot immediately after receiving the call. One body was recovered during the initial operation, while search efforts for the remaining persons are continuing.”
Rescuers recovered the body of Sonu, aged 40, during the late-night search on Monday before halting activities due to darkness. Resuming operations early Tuesday, divers retrieved the body of 32-year-old Rajan, while search efforts persist for Hemant, aged 27, and Sachin, aged 35.
Officials affirmed that unpredictable water surges and dense sediment render underwater navigation exceptionally difficult for rescue personnel. Local authorities cautioned citizens against approaching the riverbanks during peak monsoon months, while investigating officers declared that inquiries into the exact circumstances will proceed alongside the ongoing rescue mission.
