Delhi: 3 boys drown in Yamuna during idol immersion

NEW DELHI: Three boys drowned in the Yamuna during idol immersion on Ganpati Visarjan in north Delhi's Sonia Vihar on Saturday evening. Police officers, along with professional divers, continued the rescue operation throughout the day but failed to locate the bodies till late on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Vijay (16), Vivek (15) and Shivam (11).One of the teenager’s family member said the three drowned while trying to save the life of one of their friends. According to officials, the bodies might have flown downstream to other parts of the city.
The minors had gone to Sonia Vihar to immerse the Ganesha idol in the Yamuna. One of them, who was holding the idol, slipped and fell into the river. The other two boys immediately rushed to save him, but all of them drowned in the heavy current. “One boy was lucky to escape as he was saved by other people,” a police officer said.
Family members claimed that they weren’t aware that their wards had gone for idol immersion. “We did not know that our children had gone to the Yamuna for immersion. There was no such plan,” Shivam’s father, Amod Singh said.
“The boys came to the river from Sonia Vihar Pusta number 2 side for idol immersion. There was a heavy flow on that side and they drowned. Divers tried to find the bodies, but it was dark and the operation had to be suspended, a police officer said.
The rescue operation continued on Sunday but the bodies could not be found, he added.