NEW DELHI: A 20-year-old man drowned during idol immersion in the Yamuna River in East Delhi’s Mayur Vihar area, prompting a large-scale rescue and search operation involving multiple agencies.According to police, information regarding the drowning of a male individual in a canal leading to the Yamuna River was received at the Mayur Vihar police station from Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday evening. Following the alert, local police teams rushed to the spot and began preliminary enquiries.During the investigation, it was revealed that a group of around 8–10 people from Sector-5, Harola, Noida came to the Yamuna River for idol immersion. Out of the group, 4 individuals entered the canal to immerse the idol. While 3 of them managed to come out safely, 1 person was swept away by the strong current of the water.The missing individual was later identified as Vikas, a 20-year-old resident of Harola, Noida. Eyewitnesses informed cops that Vikas lost balance and was carried away by the fast-flowing water before he could be rescued.Immediately after the incident, a search and rescue operation was launched. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Uttar Pradesh, initiated efforts to trace the missing man. Information was also conveyed through the control room to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Fire Brigade, and ambulance services to assist in the operation. Professional divers were called to the site to support the search.Boat Club In-charge Harish said the rescue operation began at around 8.30 pm on Saturday. However, due to poor visibility and a lack of adequate lighting, the operation was suspended at approximately 12.30 am on Sunday. The search resumed early Sunday morning at around 6.20 am.“4 boats and 14 trained divers are deployed for the operation,” Harish said, adding that teams are thoroughly scanning the canal and nearby stretches of the Yamuna River.He added that the rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the strong flow of water in the area. The situation became more difficult as water from the Kondli Canal also merged at the spot where the drowning occurred.“Despite these obstacles, rescue personnel continued their efforts with caution, using boats and trained divers to search the area thoroughly in hopes of locating the missing man,” he said.
