Four teenagers drown in Yamuna, 2 bodies found
The boys, all aged 14, had gone to Yamuna banks in Palla village at 7am; divers fished out in two hours
NEW DELHI: Four teenagers from Haryana are feared to have drowned in the Yamuna on Sunday in Delhi’s Alipur. Police said the four boys had gone to the Palla village to take bath. Till night, police and rescue teams managed to pull out two bodies while search for others is underway. The four — Ankit Maan, his cousin Aaditya Maan, Nitin Pal and Lalit — were aged 14.
Rescuers had on Sunday evening managed to fish out two bodies while they were looking for two more hours after four boys, all 14, from Haryana’s Sonepat slipped into the Yamuna River in outer Delhi’s Alipur area.
Police said Ankit Maan, his cousin, Aaditya Maan, Nitin Pal and Lalit had gone to the Yamuna banks in Palla village around 6 am along with their three other friends, Kshitij, Mukul and Abhay and started swimming at about 6.30am.
The police control room received a distress call at 7.30 am reporting that the four had slipped and drowned.
The four were classmates at Amar Siksha Sadan in Sersa village.
“When a police team reached the spot, a few local men, who had been alerted by the three teenagers, who saw their four friends drown, told police that they tried to save the kids but failed. Soon, firefighters, divers, disaster management with nine divers and motor boat and civil defence teams were alerted and all of them arrived at the spot,’’ said a police officer, who was part of the rescue operation. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
“A detailed rescue operation was launched and following two hours of thorough search, the divers managed to fish out the bodies of two children — Ankit and Lalit,” said the police officer.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (Rohini) Gaurav Sharma could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
The rescue operations continued until late in the evening but Aaditya and Nitin remained untraceable.
Police said they fear the two boys too had drowned.
Delhi fire services’ chief fire officer Atul Garg said two fire tenders were rushed to the spot after they received a call around 7.20 am.
“We were informed, bodies of two kids were taken out while two remain untraced. Our teams are continuing the rescue operation.”
Police said Kshitij alerted locals and rushed to nearby houses seeking help. “It was then the residents of the area gathered and attempted to save the children and also called the police,’’ the police officer said. “We have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination. The rescue operation is on.”
Kshitij’s family refused to comment.
The officer said there was nothing suspicious about the drowning.
“Families of these kids have told police that they left the house early in the morning like every Sunday saying that they are going to play at a nearby stadium. Their family members did not know that they were going for swimming in the Yamuna,” said police.
Statements of the other friends have also been recorded.
While Ankit wanted to become an engineer, Aaditya loved sports, the family members said.
They all used to go to the stadium regularly where Aaditya and Ankit used to practise running, said Ankit’s father, who works with the Delhi Transport Corporation, where Lalit’s father is also employed.
While Ankit had one elder sister Aaditya is survived by a younger brother.
Nitin’s father Sri Pal, runs a shop of automobiles in Sersa village, Haryana.
Nitin is survived by six sisters and a brother.