In a swift and brave rescue operation, personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) saved the lives of 18 Kanwar pilgrims in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. On August 8, 2026, several devotees taking holy dips at different ghats along the Ganga river lost their footing due to slippery surfaces and were trapped in swift-moving water currents. The alert SDRF teams stationed along the riverbanks acted immediately, jumping into action and pulling all 18 pilgrims to safety without any casualties.
High Alert Across Bathing Ghats in Haridwar and Rishikesh
During the auspicious month of Sawan, millions of devotees gather in Haridwar and Rishikesh to fetch holy water from rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna. However, sudden shifts in water velocity and depth frequently pose life-threatening hazards to pilgrims who venture too far into the currents. To mitigate these risks, NDRF and SDRF teams have been stationed at multiple high-risk ghats. Their quick intervention on August 8 averted what could have been a multi-casualty tragedy.
Details of the 18 Rescued Devotees
The rescued individuals, hailing from various neighbouring states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and local areas, have been identified as follows
- Mithlesh: Resident of Etah, Uttar Pradesh
- Sarvesh: Resident of Etah, Uttar Pradesh
- Sumit: Aged 13, son of Kuldeep, resident of Nayagaon, Bahadurgarh, Haryana
- Raju: Aged 21, son of Ompal, resident of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
- Phool Kumar Mandal: Aged 17, son of Amulya Mandal, resident of Gali No. 12, Saket Block, Mandawali, Delhi
- Animesh Mandal: Aged 27, son of Mrinal Mandal, resident of Gali No. 12, Saket Block, Mandawali, Delhi
- Sunil: Aged 23, son of Satish, resident of Palwal, Haryana
- Sahil: Aged 24, son of Rohtash, resident of Bakkarwala, Delhi
- Ranveer: Aged 26, son of Baburam, resident of Palwal, Haryana
- Nitin: Aged 16, son of Ramprakash, resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
- Shahzad: Aged 25, son of Mustafa, resident of Jwalapur, Haridwar
- Krishna: Aged 18, son of Pappi Singh, resident of Soundara, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Vikram: Aged 22, son of Mangal Singh, resident of Rohtak, Haryana
- Sachin Kumar: Aged 25, son of Radheshyam, resident of Panipat, Haryana
- Vijendra: Aged 26, son of Mangeram, resident of Panipat, Haryana
- Harman: Son of Chiriya Singh, resident of Village Alika, Sirsa, Haryana
- Amit: Aged 30, son of Ramesh Chand, resident of Village Mandlana, Narnaul, Haryana
- Kapil Duhan: Son of Satyawan Duhan, resident of Rohtak, Haryana
SDRF Commandant Issues Safety Guidelines
SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi emphasized that ensuring the protection of pilgrims participating in the Kanwar Yatra remains the paramount objective for the force. He issued an earnest advisory urging all devotees visiting Haridwar and Rishikesh to strictly use designated, safe ghats for bathing.
Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi warned that water levels and river flow can fluctuate unpredictably. He cautioned pilgrims against taking risks by stepping into deep or rapidly moving waters, urging everyone to pay close attention to safety announcements and instructions issued by police and SDRF personnel deployed at the scene.
