Agra Idol Immersion Tragedy: Recovery of All 12 Drowned in Utangan River Concludes

Following a tragic incident during idol immersion in Agra, all 12 bodies of individuals who drowned in the Utangan River have been recovered. The rescue operation lasted approximately 124 hours, involving multiple agencies and local divers.

The bodies of all 12 individuals who drowned during an idol immersion in the Utangan river on October 2 have been recovered, officials reported. The incident took place during Dussehra in the Khairagarh area, where 13 people were swept away. Vishnu, a young man, was rescued immediately, but the others remained missing until now.

Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar confirmed the conclusion of the rescue operation. "All 12 bodies have been recovered from the Utangan river," he stated. The operation lasted nearly 124 hours and involved teams from various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force.

Rescue Efforts and Challenges

The recovery operation faced significant challenges as the bodies were trapped in deep pits within the river. To assist divers and recovery teams, the water flow was temporarily diverted. The deceased were identified as Sachin (14), Karan (21), Bhagwati (23), Oke (19), Gajendra (20), Ompal (35), Gagan (25), Deepak (15), Abhishek (16), Vinesh (19), Manoj (15), and Haresh (22).

Police Commissioner Kumar, along with District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa Bangari, visited the site to oversee the final phase of the operation. Kumar expressed gratitude to all rescue teams and villagers who assisted in the operation. "I thank every member of the NDRF, SDRF, PAC, police and local administration who worked tirelessly for over five days to bring closure to the bereaved families," he said.

Incident Details and Aftermath

The tragedy occurred when a group of young men went to immerse a Goddess Durga idol in the Utangan river. Initially, they placed the idol in shallow water near the bank before moving further into the river. One youth stepped into a pit and slipped into a deep cavity, causing others to lose balance and fall in as well.

Inspector Vinod Kumar from the NDRF explained that illegal sand mining had created a pit around 25 feet deep at the incident site, with nearby cavities approximately 15 feet deep. These conditions contributed to the tragic accident.

Kumar also acknowledged support from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's office and Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna. Their guidance was crucial for carrying out the entire operation successfully.

Eight of those who died have already been cremated, while post-mortem examinations are completed for others. Further formalities are underway to provide closure for grieving families.

With inputs from PTI