Three men swept away in Sai River during Ganesh idol immersion in Lucknow
Synopsis
Three men from Lucknow's Sisendi neighbourhood drowned in the Sai River during a Ganesh idol immersion near Jabrela Bridge on Tuesday evening. The NDRF recovered one body; two others remain missing as search operations continue into Wednesday — a grim reminder of the dangers that can accompany river immersions during festival season.
Key Takeaways
Hariprasad (40) , Dheeraj (35) , and Pramod (22) , all residents of Sisendi , drowned in the Sai River near Jabrela Bridge , Lucknow , on Tuesday at approximately 5 pm .
The three were swept away by a strong current while carrying a Ganesh idol into the river for immersion during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
The body of Dheeraj was recovered by the NDRF and sent for post-mortem; search for Hariprasad and Pramod continued into Wednesday .
SDRF , NDRF , and multiple police personnel were deployed; divers were summoned from Ganga Ghat by Sisendi Outpost In-charge Anoop Singh .
Villagers' attempts to intervene with bamboo poles were stopped by bystanders to prevent further casualties.
Three men from the Sisendi neighbourhood of Lucknow's Mohanlalganj area drowned in the Sai River on Tuesday evening after being swept away by a powerful current during the immersion of a Ganesh idol near the Jabrela Bridge. The incident occurred at approximately 5 pm and has left the local community in deep grief, with search-and-rescue operations continuing into Wednesday.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Hundreds of devotees from the Koriyani neighbourhood of Sisendi had set out with a Ganpati idol, accompanied by music and fanfare, heading toward the river for the traditional immersion ritual. Upon reaching the Jabrela Bridge, three residents — Hariprasad (40), Dheeraj (35), and Pramod (22) — waded into the Sai River carrying the idol. The trio reportedly drifted into a deeper section of the river, where the current was extremely strong. They lost their footing and were unable to stay afloat; witnesses said their heads were visible above the waterline only twice before they were submerged by the swift current.
Desperate Rescue Attempts
Companions at the scene made frantic efforts to pull the men to safety, but the force of the current made intervention nearly impossible. Some villagers on the riverbank rushed forward with bamboo poles in a bid to reach the men. However, bystanders on the bridge reportedly stopped them from entering the water, citing the ferocious current and the river's depth, to prevent further casualties.
Search and Recovery Operations
After initial efforts by local divers proved unsuccessful, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) took over the search operation, with multiple police personnel also deployed at the site. Anoop Singh, In-charge of the Sisendi Outpost, summoned divers from Ganga Ghat to accelerate the search. The body of Dheeraj was subsequently recovered by the NDRF team and has been sent for a post-mortem examination. As of Wednesday, the search for Hariprasad and Pramod was still ongoing.
Community in Mourning
Grief-stricken family members gathered at the riverbank alongside other villagers as rescue teams combed the river. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what is traditionally a celebratory occasion marking the conclusion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This incident underscores persistent safety concerns during river immersion events, particularly in stretches where water depth and current strength can change rapidly. Authorities are expected to review safety protocols for future immersion events in the region.
Point of View
Yet safety infrastructure at river ghats outside major urban centres remains thin. The fact that local divers were unable to make headway and specialist NDRF-SDRF teams had to be called in highlights a persistent gap between the scale of public gatherings during festivals and the preparedness of local administration to handle swift-water emergencies. Questions about prior risk assessments at the Jabrela Bridge stretch — and why no formal barriers or coast-guard presence existed — deserve answers beyond condolence statements. Until immersion sites are systematically mapped for depth and current hazard, and crowd-safety protocols are enforced with adequate personnel, such tragedies will repeat with predictable regularity.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during the Ganesh idol immersion in Lucknow?
Three men — Hariprasad (40), Dheeraj (35), and Pramod (22) — were swept away and drowned in the Sai River near Jabrela Bridge in Lucknow's Mohanlalganj area on Tuesday at around 5 pm while carrying a Ganesh idol for immersion. The strong current pulled them into a deeper section of the river before they could be rescued.
How many bodies have been recovered and who is still missing?
As of Wednesday, one body — that of Dheeraj — had been recovered by the NDRF team and sent for post-mortem examination. The search for Hariprasad and Pramod was still ongoing.
Which agencies are involved in the search operation?
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are leading the search, assisted by multiple police personnel. Sisendi Outpost In-charge Anoop Singh also summoned additional divers from Ganga Ghat to speed up the recovery effort.
Why were bystanders stopped from entering the river to help?
People standing on the Jabrela Bridge stopped other villagers from entering the river with bamboo poles, citing the ferocious current and significant depth, to prevent additional drownings. The initial rescue attempts by the victims' companions had already proven futile against the powerful current.
Are immersion-related drownings common during Ganesh Chaturthi?
River drownings during Ganesh idol immersion events are reported across India every year, particularly in stretches where water depth and current intensity are not clearly marked or managed. Experts and safety officials have repeatedly called for mandatory barriers, trained personnel, and prior hazard assessments at immersion sites to reduce casualties.
