2 DTU students drown in Bawana canal, bodies yet to be recovered

ONE OF THE STUDENTS REPORTEDLY SLIPPED, WHILE THE SECOND HAD JUMPED INTO THE WATER TO TRY AND SAVE HIS FRIEND

NEW DELHI: Two engineering students of Delhi Technological University slipped into the Haiderpur canal in outer Delhi on Thursday morning. Rescue teams including police and divers, however, could not fish out bodies till late in the evening.

According to police, a PCR call was received around 8am reporting that two youth had fallen in the canal and had drowned. “Another student who was accompanying the duo alerted the locals who informed police about the incident. Immediately, a team of rescuers, including Delhi Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, Police Control Rooms, ambulances and divers were rushed to the spot and rescue was started,” said a senior police officer who did not wish to be named.

Another youth accompanying them said all of them were having breakfast sitting next to the canal when one of them slipped into the water.

“Seeing him fall, another student jumped in to save him, but he could not. Both of them soon disappeared into the water. The third one then alerted the locals and rescuers were called in,” the officer said.

DTU vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh said the families of the stu- dents had been informed about the mishap.

“The students were in the final year of Btech and had finished their exams two days ago. They used to stay at a PG and were from Delhi. We have informed their parents,” Singh said.

Confirming the incident, Gaurav Sharma, additional deputy commissioner of police, Rohini, said the search operation is on.

“We received information regarding drowning of two boys in the Haiderpur Canal in Samaipur Badli area. During enquiry, it was revealed that the boys were students of Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur and were sitting on the banks of the Munak canal,” Sharma said.

“One of them slipped into the canal and the other boy jumped into the canal to save his friend. The third boy made a hue and cry for help. The fire brigade, DDMA and divers of the National Disaster Response Force have been pressed into service but both the boys are yet to be traced,” the officer said.