15 drowning incidents reported in May across Haridwar, Rishikesh

Dehradun: At least 15 drowning incidents have been reported in the Ganga river across the Haridwar and Rishikesh regions so far in May, officials said. Of these, nine incidents took place in Rishikesh and six in Haridwar.In a recent incident, a 15-year-old boy drowned in the Ganga at Amrapur bank in Haridwar on Tuesday. Police said Vishnu Kumar had gone to bathe in the river with friends after school when he was swept away by the strong current.Officials said most accidents occurred after pilgrims ignored safety guidelines, entered restricted areas or attempted to take selfies near riverbanks. With temperatures rising, the number of people taking dips in the river has also increased significantly, putting additional pressure on river safety management.SDRF local in-charge Kavindra Sajwan told TOI, “There are around 16 riverbanks in the Rishikesh, Tapovan and Lakshman Jhula regions that fall under the danger category, where caution boards have been installed for tourists. Some tourists ignore the guidelines and enter deep water while bathing.”Haridwar Jal Police in-charge Atul Singh told TOI, “Most cases are reported in the Upper Ganga canal. We rescued several pilgrims who attempted to cross the river near Har Ki Pauri. Despite repeated warnings, many pilgrims take the risk of swimming in the river and crossing safety railings.”Authorities have deployed additional SDRF and water police teams at sensitive ghats and vulnerable river points. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted to educate visitors about river safety and the importance of following security protocols.