Narmada sweeps away Indore man at Maheshwar Ghat; search enters Day 2
Synopsis
A 30-year-old Indore resident slipped on the rocky riverbed at Maheshwar's Sahastradhara Ghat and was swallowed by the Narmada's monsoon currents. Two days in, SDRF teams and local divers have found nothing — a grim reminder that one of India's most sacred rivers turns lethal every monsoon season, often at the same stretches where safety warnings go unheeded.
Key Takeaways
Arpit Hada , 30, from Nipania, Indore , was swept away by the Narmada River at Sahastradhara Ghat, Maheshwar on 27 July .
The incident occurred between 4 pm and 5 pm when Hada reportedly slipped on the rocky riverbed while bathing.
He had visited Maheshwar with five family members for sightseeing before the accident.
Maheshwar police , SDRF teams, Home Guard personnel, and local divers launched a search on Sunday evening.
The search entered its second day on Monday with no trace of the missing man found.
Police have warned tourists against bathing in deep or unfamiliar river sections, especially during the monsoon season .
A 30-year-old man from Indore was swept away by strong currents of the Narmada River while bathing at the Sahastradhara Ghat near Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Sunday, 27 July, triggering a multi-agency search operation that entered its second day on Monday without success, police confirmed. The missing man has been identified as Arpit Hada, a resident of the Nipania locality in Indore.
How the Incident Unfolded
Hada had travelled to Maheshwar with five family members on Sunday to visit the historic tourist destination and its surroundings. The group reached the Jalkoti-Sahastradhara stretch of the river between 4 pm and 5 pm. While taking a dip, Hada reportedly slipped on the rocky riverbed and was pulled into deep water by the powerful current.
Family members raised an immediate alarm. Boatmen, local residents, and fellow tourists rushed to the bank, but the combination of strong currents, deep water, and jagged rock formations made it impossible for anyone to enter the river to assist him.
Search Operation Details
Following the alert, Maheshwar police, Home Guard personnel, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, and local divers launched a search along several stretches of the river on Sunday evening. The operation continued until late into the night before being suspended due to darkness.
Rescue teams resumed the search early on Monday morning, deploying boats and personnel to comb the area. As of the latest update, no trace of Hada had been found.
What Authorities Said
Maheshwar police station in-charge Jagdish Goyal confirmed the operation was ongoing. 'The Jalkoti-Sahastradhara stretch of the Narmada is extremely hazardous due to strong currents, deep water and a rocky riverbed. Tourists and devotees should avoid bathing in unfamiliar or deep sections of the river and strictly follow safety advisories,' Goyal said.
Police reiterated their appeal for visitors to exercise caution near the river, particularly during the monsoon season, when water levels and currents remain significantly elevated.
A Recurring Danger
The Sahastradhara stretch near Maheshwar is a popular pilgrimage and tourism site on the Narmada, but its rocky terrain and unpredictable currents have made it the site of multiple drowning incidents in recent years — especially during the monsoon months when river flow intensifies sharply. Authorities have repeatedly issued seasonal advisories, though enforcement at such ghats remains a challenge. This incident underscores the need for permanent safety infrastructure at high-footfall river bathing points across Madhya Pradesh.
Point of View
And seasonal advisories alone have clearly not been enough. What is missing is physical safety infrastructure: warning buoys, mandatory life-jacket zones, and staffed rescue posts at high-footfall ghats. Madhya Pradesh's riverine tourism draws millions annually to the Narmada, yet the gap between pilgrimage promotion and drowning prevention remains wide. Each monsoon season resets the same cycle: incident, search operation, advisory, silence — until the next one.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arpit Hada and where is he from?
Arpit Hada is a 30-year-old man from the Nipania locality in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He went missing after being swept away by the Narmada River at Sahastradhara Ghat near Maheshwar on 27 July.
What happened at Sahastradhara Ghat near Maheshwar?
Arpit Hada slipped on the rocky riverbed while bathing at the Sahastradhara Ghat and was pulled into deep water by the strong monsoon currents of the Narmada River. Bystanders and boatmen were unable to enter the river due to the dangerous conditions.
Which agencies are conducting the search operation?
The search involves Maheshwar police, Home Guard personnel, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, and local divers. The operation began Sunday evening and resumed Monday morning using boats to comb the river stretch.
Why is the Sahastradhara stretch of the Narmada considered dangerous?
According to Maheshwar police station in-charge Jagdish Goyal, the Jalkoti-Sahastradhara stretch is extremely hazardous due to strong currents, deep water, and a rocky riverbed — conditions that worsen significantly during the monsoon season.
What safety advice have police issued for Narmada visitors?
Police have urged tourists and devotees to avoid bathing in unfamiliar or deep sections of the Narmada and to strictly follow safety advisories, particularly during the monsoon months when water levels and currents remain dangerously high.
