Delhi: Four minors feared drowned in Yamuna; search operation enters second day

New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) Four minors are feared to have drowned in the Yamuna after they were swept away by strong current while bathing in the river near a village in outernorth Delhi's Alipur area, with the multi-agency search operation entering its second day as the children remain untraced, an official said on Monday. Police said a PCR call regarding the incident was received at 7.46 pm on Sunday. A team was immediately rushed to the spot at Thokar No 24 on the Yamuna river near Hiranki village. According to preliminary inquiry, five boys had gone to the river on Sunday evening for a bath. While bathing, four of them -- Rahul (15), Anshu (15), Saurabh (15), and Amandeep (15), all residents of Ibrahimpur -- were allegedly swept away after being caught in strong currents, while Lucky, who was on the riverbank, raised an alarm. Hearing his cries, locals working in nearby agricultural fields rushed to the spot and attempted to rescue the children. However, by the time they reached, all four boys had disappeared under the surface, police said. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police are conducting a search operation since Sunday evening. Police said the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) concerned has also been informed and local police officials are coordinating with rescue agencies. The search operation continued throughout Monday, with boats and trained rescue personnel combing the river despite the strong current. However, no bodies had been recovered so far, police said. They said all possible efforts were being made to trace the missing boys, adding that inquest proceedings under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) would be initiated upon recovery of the bodies, if any, and further action would be taken. Lucky, who had accompanied the group, told PTI that the five boys had reached the river around 5 pm. "The road leading to the ghat was muddy. We had gone there together, and initially, were only washing our hands and feet. Then Saurabh decided to take a dip, and Rahul, Amandeep and Anshu followed him," he said. Lucky said he had warned his friends against entering the river after noticing the force of the current. "I told them not to go because the current was very strong. They were holding each other's hands while bathing, but the current pulled them away," he said. He said three locals rushed to the spot after hearing his cries and helped contact his family members, who later informed the police and the families of the missing boys. As rescue teams continued to scan the river on Monday, anxious family members remained on the riverbank, refusing to leave. Every movement of the rescue boats drew their attention, only to be followed by silence as the teams returned without finding the missing boys. The clothes and slippers the teenagers had left on the rocks before entering the river remain untouched, watched over by relatives who cling to the hope that the search would bring good news. Shyam Bihari Shah, father of one of the missing boys Anshu, said the family received a phone call about the incident around 6 pm on Sunday. "When we reached, there were already many people here. Since then, we have been waiting near the river. We are praying that our child is found," he said. Nearby, relatives of the other missing boys, including Saurabh's mother and his sister Khushi, broke down repeatedly as personnel continued rescue efforts in the river. Police said the operation would continue until all the missing boys are traced. PTI BM ARB ARB