File photo of deceased Rohit, who drowned in the Western Yamuna Canal near Budia in Yamunanagar.
Days-long search concludes with recovery of both bodies; families and residents seek enhanced safety along hazardous canal stretches.
Yamunanagar | Pen of Democracy News Desk
The bodies of two young men who went missing while bathing in the Western Yamuna Canal near Budia in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district have been recovered, bringing an end to a multi-day search operation carried out by police and rescue teams. The tragedy has left two families devastated, with both victims survived by their wives and two young children each.
The deceased, identified as Amit and Rohit, were residents of the Hanuman Gate area of Jagadhri. Following the completion of post-mortem examinations on Wednesday, the bodies were handed over to their families for the last rites.
According to police and family members, the incident occurred on Saturday evening when three friends visited the Western Yamuna Canal near Budia to take a bath. While Amit and Rohit entered the water, their third companion remained on the bank.
During the bath, one of the two men reportedly ventured into deep water and began struggling against the strong current. In an attempt to rescue his friend, the other immediately jumped into the canal. However, both were swept away by the powerful flow of water and disappeared beneath the surface.
Their companion immediately raised an alarm, prompting local residents to gather at the spot before informing the police. Rescue teams and divers rushed to the scene, but the search operation could not begin that night due to darkness and difficult conditions.
A full-scale search resumed the following morning and continued over the next several days.
On Monday, rescue teams recovered Amit’s body from the canal near Chitta Mandir. Rohit’s body, carried away by the strong current, was later recovered in the Indri area of Karnal district. After legal formalities and post-mortem examinations were completed, both bodies were released to their grieving families on Wednesday.
Family members said Rohit owned a workshop, while Amit worked alongside him. The two were close friends who had been working together for several years.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the Hanuman Gate locality, where neighbours and relatives gathered to mourn the untimely deaths. Residents described the tragedy as particularly heartbreaking because both men were in the prime of their lives and were the sole breadwinners for their families.
The loss has left four young children without their fathers, deepening the emotional impact of the incident on the community.
Following the accident, local residents urged the administration to strengthen safety measures along canals by installing warning signboards, protective barriers and increasing public awareness about the dangers of entering deep or fast-flowing water, particularly during the monsoon season when water currents become significantly stronger.
Police have once again appealed to the public to avoid bathing in canals and other hazardous water bodies, warning that strong currents can quickly turn recreational activities into fatal accidents.
