Five buffaloes drown near Hathnikund Barrage

Five buffaloes drowned after being swept away by the strong current of the Yamuna river near the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar district. Two others were rescued with the help of an earth-moving machine in an operation.

The incident occurred when three residents — Furkaan, Abid and Nawab — of Janipur village in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, were grazing their buffaloes along the bank of the Yamuna river. While grazing, seven buffaloes inadvertently entered the river and were caught in its swift current.

The animals were carried downstream and became trapped near the closed gates of the Hathnikund Barrage. Eyewitnesses said the buffaloes struggled in the water for nearly an hour, desperately trying to stay afloat. Despite efforts to save them, five could not survive.

A rescue team managed to pull two buffaloes to safety using heavy machinery. The loss has caused deep distress among the cattle owners and local villagers, who have demanded safety measures along the riverbank to prevent such incidents in the future.