Police and SDRF team save devotees from drowning in northern India
by Aditi VermaDuring the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, two devotees from Haryana were saved from drowning in the Ganges by the northern India’s Uttarakhand Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in Haridwar.
The incident took place at Kangra Ghat and Bairagi Camp Ghat in Haridwar district on July 22.
Visuals showed a man was struggling to stay afloat in the strong currents of the Ganga River. The rescue team, upon spotting him, quickly sprang into action. They swam rapidly through the powerful waters, fighting against the swift flow. With determined strokes and coordinated effort, they reached the man. After a tense and strenuous rescue operation, they finally managed to bring him to safety.
In another footage, at a different ghat, another man drowned; the rescue team arrived and safely saved him.
Speaking to Newslions SDRF Media Coordinator Uttarakhand Lalita Negi stated that during the Kanwar Yatra at the Kangra Ghat in Haridwar, a devotee from Haryana, while bathing in the Ganges, was swept away by the strong current. Swift action by SDRF divers Sunny Kumar and SDRF personnel Shubham and Asif resulted in a successful rescue. The rescue operation, conducted under the supervision of the Uttarakhand Police, ensured the devotee’s safe return to shore.
The SDRF team, assigned to various sensitive ghats in Haridwar for the safety of pilgrims, has been vigilant in their duty. On the same day, at the Bairagi Camp ghat, another individual was caught in the river’s strong current. SDRF team members Ramesh Bhatt and Vijay Kharola quickly intervened, rescuing the person safely.
The rescued devotees are identified as Pawan Kumar, 29, from Rohtak, Haryana, and Girish Kumar, 45, from the Bairagi Camp ghat area. These timely rescues highlight the dedication and efficiency of the SDRF teams stationed in Haridwar during the Kanwar Yatra, ensuring the safety of all pilgrims.