Death toll rose to 17 in the drowning incident during Ganesh visarjan in the Yamuna on Wednesday evening. Nine bodies were fished out of the river on Thursday with at least 13 bodies still missing. Rescue operations were on till reports came in last on Thursday night.
Nine bodies — four identified as Bharat (22), Sunny (23), Rahul (24), Kishan (48); five still unidentified — were recovered from the Kudsiya Ghat near ISBT during rescue ops since Wednesday evening. Eyewitnesses claimed that at least 13 persons from Kishan Ganj Ghode Wali Gali in Karol Bagh are missing. They claimed that some people managed to swim to safer shores. A large number of the faithful were reportedly in ‘high spirits’ celebrating Ganesh visarjan.
“Everyone was just following the crowd. There were no proper railings for anyone to follow or a designated route. Everyone was just following the herd. I lost my only son. I told him not to attend the visarjan but he insisted otherwise. The bread earner of the family is no more,” said an aggrieved Bimlesh Kumari.
Another devotee rescued by fishermen from drowning claimed that the traffic police deployed was an apology for security. “A number of people were swept away by the rising tide,” said Sanjay Chauhan, adding, “A few fishermen saved my life. I woke up in a hospital.”
The Delhi Police, however, said they had reinforcements vis-à-vis immersion. "Thirteen persons are still missing. The Fire Department, the boat club officials and more divers were involved on Thursday in the rescue ops. Around 50 policemen were deployed and proper barricading was done. Since there is no restriction on the number of people attending the visarjan, the groundswell was large,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North district) Sindhu Pillai.
In another related tragedy, a 16-year-old girl committed suicide in Burari area in Central Delhi’s Daryaganj on Wednesday night after her return from Ganesh visarjan. Pallavi Saini was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside her room.
According to police, the incident was reported around 10 pm on Wednesday. The Class XI student was found hanging by her brother. Pallavi came home after the visarjan around 9 pm. “No suicide note has been recovered as yet,” informed a police official. She was rushed to lok Nayak Jai Prakash (lNJP) Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.