Miracle on the Yamuna: 3 boys pulled to safety in 5-hour op

A major tragedy was averted near Rampur Ghat of Paonta Sahib on Tuesday when three teenagers (pic) got trapped in the swollen waters of the Yamuna river and were rescued after a five-hour-long operation. Thanks to timely police intervention and the efforts of expert divers from neighbouring Uttarakhand, all three boys were brought to safety.

The incident came to light in the afternoon when a distress call reached the Puruwala Police Station, reporting that the water level of the Yamuna had suddenly surged near the IIM Colony and that two to three individuals were stranded midstream. Acting swiftly, SHO Puruwala along with team members rushed to the spot.

Upon reaching the riverbank near IIM Colony, the police found that three boys — Priyanshu (17) and Abhi Kumar (15) from Saharanpur and Kunal (14) from Baghpat — were stuck roughly 500-600m into the river. The current was so strong and the water so deep that conventional rescue methods were ruled out.

Realising the gravity of the situation, authorities sought the help of experienced divers from the Kulhal area of Uttarakhand. Divers Asrar (45), Jubin (32) and Shoaib were called in. Using a specialised rescue technique involving a “braj hook”, the team navigated the fierce river currents to reach the stranded teenagers. After an intense four to five-hour effort, all three were successfully pulled out of danger and reunited with their families.