Three youths, including two brothers, drown in Yamuna at Paonta Sahib

Tragedy struck Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district on Tuesday when three youths, including two real brothers, were swept away by the strong currents of the Yamuna river.

Rescue operations are underway, but no trace of the missing youths has been found so far.

According to information, the victims were returning from Uttarakhand with a deity’s palanquin when the incident occurred. On reaching Paonta Sahib, the group stopped at the Yamuna ghat where one of the youths entered the river to bathe. As he began to drown, the other two rushed to his rescue, but were also pulled under by the powerful flow of the river.

Police and administration were immediately informed, following which rescue teams, including divers, reached the spot and launched an intensive search.

The missing youths have been identified as Amit (23), and brothers Kamlesh (22) and Rajnish (20), all residents of Gwali village in the Shillai Assembly constituency.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Paonta Sahib Gunjit Singh Cheema and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Manvendra Thakur are supervising the rescue efforts at the site. Divers have been pressed into service to trace the bodies, but the strong current of the river has hampered operations.

Authorities said that every possible effort is being made to locate the missing youths.