Four Chandigarh teens drown in Haridwar canal during Kanwar yatra

DEHRADUN: Four minor boys from Chandigarh drowned in the Upper Ganga Canal in Haridwar’s Jwalapur area on Friday while returning home after collecting holy water during the Kanwar Yatra, police said.

The teenagers had entered the canal for a bath near the Jwalapur-Mayapur area when one of them became trapped in a deep depression. The others drowned while attempting to rescue him, according to eyewitnesses.

The victims were identified as Shivanshu, Nitish and Bharat, all aged 16, and Rohit, 17. They had travelled to Haridwar as part of a group of Kanwariyas and were carrying Gangajal back to Chandigarh.

SDRF sources said the boys apparently made a sudden plan to bathe in the canal during their return journey.

At the time of the accident, the canal had reportedly been closed because of silt accumulation. Although the water appeared shallow near the bank, deep pits beneath the surface made the stretch dangerous.

Eyewitnesses said Bharat was the first to move farther into the canal. He suddenly stepped into a deep depression and began drowning. Nitish and Shivanshu rushed to help him but were also caught in the depth and strong current. Rohit then entered the water in an attempt to save his friends but drowned as well.

Three other Kanwariyas — Rahul, Amit and Sahil — also tried to help. Amit reportedly became trapped in the water but was pulled to safety by Sahil. The four teenagers, however, could not be saved.