A frantic search is underway along the Yamuna River at the Delhi-Noida border after a man went missing during a Saraswati idol immersion ceremony on Saturday evening. Identified as Vikas, the young man slipped and fell into the fast-flowing waters while participating in the traditional ritual marking the day after Basant Panchami.
The incident occurred around 8 PM near the Delhi Boat Club, where crowds had gathered for the immersion. Eyewitnesses reported that Vikas lost his footing on the slippery riverbank, plunging into the river amid the chaos of the procession. Despite immediate shouts for help and alerts to authorities, he was swept away by the strong current.
Rescue teams sprang into action swiftly. Local police, fire services, and NDRF units arrived within minutes, launching a comprehensive search operation. Uttar Pradesh SDRF also joined the efforts. Operations were paused late at night due to poor visibility but resumed at dawn on Sunday with divers combing the riverbed.
Delhi Boat Club in-charge Harish Kumar confirmed to reporters that divers have been tirelessly scouring the waters since 6:30 AM, but no trace of Vikas has been found yet. Eastern Delhi District Magistrate Amol Srivastava detailed the timeline, noting that UP Police received the distress call between 8:00 and 8:15 PM, prompting an immediate response.
Vikas’s brother recounted the harrowing moments: ‘We came here around 7 PM for the immersion on foot. During the process, Vikas slipped. We’ve been searching since yesterday.’ He urged continued efforts as hope lingers among family and friends.
Authorities have ramped up the operation with boats, drones, and expert divers, battling the Yamuna’s notorious currents that have claimed lives in similar incidents. As the search enters its second day, officials are appealing to the public to exercise extreme caution during riverbank rituals, emphasizing life jackets and supervised immersions to prevent such tragedies.