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One drowns, 2 rescued during Saraswati puja at Doraha

Onlookers blame it on cemented banks, absence of cops & divers
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Victim Sudhir Yadav
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A migrant reportedly drowned while two others were rescued during the holding of Saraswati immersion puja at the Sirhind canal in Doraha today. The deceased has been identified as Sudhir Yadav (24) of Jugiana village. He was married and working in a company near his village.

The deceased was taking a bath during the ‘murti visarjan’ when the incident took place. Others at the time of the incident were engaged in their own prayers. Two others who were close to Sudhir also lost control as they saw the latter drowning, but this was luckily noticed by some onlookers and the duo also shouted for help. Acting immediately, the onlookers immediately tied some dupattas together and manage to pull them out.

The onlookers rued that the administration had made no preparations, whatsoever, to control the huge rush of devotees, as there was an inadequate number of security personnel. “The divers too were nowhere to be seen,” they said. Some onlookers complained that as they went to arrange for divers, the latter asked for Rs 15,000 for bringing out the body of Sudhir.

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Dinesh Ram, a resident of Jugiana village, shared with this correspondent that a total of three youngsters went into the canal to take holy bath, and Sudhir got drowned while the other two were rescued. “No help came to us and we found no diver on the spot to bring out the body,” he added.

“The concretisation of the banks of the Sirhind canal is to be blamed. Earlier, if someone slipped he was able to hold on to some plants or bushes on the banks or got stuck in them. But now with the cemented banks, the rescuing of a drowning person has become next to impossible. Only experts, if available, can save a drowning person,” shared Barjinder Jandu, a social worker of Doraha.

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Samita Kaur Mangat, an environmentalist, shared that, “On one hand, the administration has played havoc with environment, and on the other they are not prepared to assist anyone in hour of need. The drowning could have been stopped had it not been for the cemented edges,” she said.

“It is foolish on the part of the department to erect such steep banks from where no one cannot be saved if he slips. To make matters worse, there are no barricades, wire meshes, bar handles to help people,” Samiat added.

Kuldeep Khaira, member, Public Action Committee, too complained that the government had taken no stakeholders into confidence before taking such a crucial decision which pertains to the safety, security and wellness of people. “The precious life could have been saved if the canal had been in its original form. Many more may follow if the administration fails to make prior security arrangements, especially on such occasions when the convergence of thousands can result in any mishap,” he added.

Doraha SHO Rao Varinder shared that he had come to know about the incident but was waiting for a formal complaint to act.

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