NEW DELHI — A outing ended in tragedy on Tuesday when four friends were swept away by strong currents while swimming in the Yamuna River near the Mayur Vihar area in East Delhi. Search teams have recovered the bodies of two youths, while massive rescue efforts remain underway to locate the two missing individuals.
According to police sources, the group of young men, all residents of nearby East Delhi localities, had gathered near the riverbanks during the afternoon. Eyewitnesses reported that the youths ventured deep into the water to bathe when sudden strong currents pulled them under. Unable to fight the flow, all four were carried downstream within minutes.
Onlookers alerted the Delhi Police, who promptly dispatched emergency units, local divers, and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Fire Services to the scene.
A joint search and rescue operation was launched along a multi-kilometer stretch of the riverbed. By late afternoon, rescue divers managed to retrieve two bodies from the water. Both victims were declared dead on arrival after being rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency examination. Their identities are currently being verified by law enforcement before formal notification to their families.
Efforts to locate the remaining two youths have been intensified, with NDRF motorized boats and specialized diving teams scouring downstream channels. Search operations are expected to continue through the evening, contingent on light and water visibility conditions.
Police officials have issued a fresh appeal to local residents and visitors to refrain from entering the Yamuna River, warning that fluctuating water levels and hidden underwater undercurrents pose severe hazards to swimmers and bystanders alike. An inquiry into the incident has been registered at the local police station.
