2 feared drowned in Buddha Nullah

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 16

Two boys were feared drowned in Buddha Nullah on Monday morning while collecting plastic waste during rain. The water level suddenly rose and the two boys drowned. Two other boys, who were also collecting waste from the nullah, survived as they did not enter the deep waters.

The police have been searching for their bodies with the help of divers. The incident took place near Talwara village on Ludhiana-Hambran Road. The victims have been identified as Bhola (15) and Naresh (18), both residents of Haibowal in Ludhiana. They were rag-pickers who used to collect plastic waste from the banks of Buddha Nullah.

According to sources, four boys, Bhola, Naresh, Vijay and Sooraj, had gone to Buddha Nullah to collect some waste material. “While collecting plastic, two boys entered deep waters and drowned. When I noticed my brother drowning, I tried to pull him out but failed,” said Vijay, brother of Bhola.

Vijay and Sooraj informed their families about the incident following which a large number of people gathered on the banks of the nullah.

Sub-Inspector Manjinder Kaur said the police had been trying to trace the drowned boys with the help of divers. “The missing boys have not been traced yet. It is not easy to trace the boys because the divers are finding it hard to carry out the search operation in dirty water of the nullah. We are trying our best to trace the missing boys,” she said.