A New Year's celebration turned into a tragedy in Yamunanagar when a 52-year-old trader from Panipat, who entered the Western Jamuna Canal for a ritual dip, was swept away by strong currents and remains missing.
Celebration Turns to Crisis in Icy Waters
Devender, a resident of Buana Lakhu village in Panipat district and an amateur wrestler, had travelled to Yamunanagar with three friends—Sandeep, Surjeet, and Praveen—to ring in the New Year on Thursday. After visiting several spots in the city, the group arrived at the Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) near Kashmargarh village in the Buria area by evening.
Despite the biting cold and advancing darkness, Devender decided to take a bath in the canal. His companions warned him against entering the water, but he proceeded nonetheless. Moments after stepping in, he was overpowered by the strong current and began to drown.
Frantic Search Launched, Continues Into Second Day
Seeing him submerge, his friends raised an alarm and sought help from locals. Police reached the spot promptly and, with the assistance of local divers Amar Singh and Ramkesh, launched a search operation. However, the night-long efforts failed to locate Devender.
On Friday, the search was intensified with the deployment of a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team alongside local divers. The teams conducted a thorough search using boats, scouring the waters from the incident site up to the Buria bridge. As of Friday evening, Devender was still missing.
Appeal for Public Assistance
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Buria police station confirmed that efforts to locate the missing trader are ongoing. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information related to the incident or Devender's whereabouts.
The police have shared the following contact numbers for tips:
- 9416189278
- 9050507676
- 9416218815
Officials stated that the search operation will continue until further leads emerge, highlighting the dangers of entering swift-flowing canals, especially during winter.
