Buddha Nullah that gave them bread turns their watery grave

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 17

The police are yet to trace two boys who were feared drowned in the Buddha Nullah during the rain on Monday. The divers engaged in a search operation refused to dive after some time citing uneasiness in breathing due to toxic water of the nullah.

The deceased, identified as Bhola (15) and Naresh (17), were picking plastic from the nullah when they drowned in deep waters. Two other boys accompanying them had a miraculous escape. They lived in shanties on Hambra Road.

Vijay, brother of Bhola, said they picked plastic to earn their daily bread. On Monday, he, along with his brother Bhola and friends Naresh and Sooraj, went to Talwara village in search of plastic.

“After we reached there, Bhola and Naresh entered into the nullah and started collecting bottles. As they went little ahead, they lost balance and started drowning. They also asked me for help but I couldn’t as I was not trained in swimming. I also called the nearby people but it was too late. Both of them were washed away by current,” said the deceased’s brother while controlling his tears.

Meanwhile, the police were called at the spot. They called two divers to search the bodies. But they faced difficulty in breathing while carrying out search operation in the toxic water of the nullah. They finally refused to dive into the nullah. Later, the police called a crane but it also failed to locate the bodies.

The ACP, Gurpreet Singh, said the divers were also engaged, but in vain.