Yamuna drowning: 3 bodies recovered near Alipur, search on for 4th child
Synopsis
Six children died or remain missing across two separate drowning incidents in Delhi on a single Sunday — four swept away by Yamuna currents near Alipur, and two more who fell into an unsecured agricultural pit in Mukhmelpur. With three bodies recovered and one child still missing, the twin tragedies expose the deadly hazards Delhi's monsoon season poses to children every year.
Key Takeaways
Three bodies have been recovered after four minors drowned in the Yamuna River near Thokar No.
24, Hiranki village in Outer North Delhi .
The drowning occurred at approximately 4:30 pm on Sunday ; search for the fourth child is still underway as of Wednesday, 13 July .
A joint rescue operation by the Delhi Fire Service and NDRF was launched immediately; Sunday's search was suspended at 10:30 pm due to darkness.
In a separate incident, two boys aged 8 and 10 drowned in a waterlogged pit in Mukhmelpur village on the same day and were declared dead on arrival at SRHC Hospital, Narela .
Investigators suspect the pit was not properly secured , posing a hazard to children in the area.
Local authorities have sealed the Yamuna bathing stretch and warned residents against entering the river due to dangerously high water levels .
Three bodies of the four minors who drowned in the Yamuna River near the Alipur area of New Delhi have been recovered, with search operations continuing on Wednesday, 13 July for the fourth child still missing. The boys went missing after being swept away by strong currents near Thokar No. 24 in Hiranki village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Alipur police station in Outer North Delhi.
How the Incident Unfolded
The four boys were bathing in the Yamuna when they were pulled under by powerful currents at approximately 4:30 pm on Sunday. Two bodies were retrieved from the river on Sunday itself, following a joint rescue operation launched soon after the incident was reported. A third body was subsequently recovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to three.
The search operation on Sunday extended until around 10:30 pm before authorities were forced to suspend it due to poor visibility and darkness. Operations resumed the following morning.
Rescue Agencies Deployed
A multi-agency rescue effort was swiftly mounted, involving the Delhi Fire Service, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other local agencies. East Delhi Boat Club In-charge Harish confirmed that search operations for the remaining child are actively underway. Local authorities have cordoned off the stretch of the river and issued public warnings, urging residents not to enter the Yamuna given dangerously elevated water levels and extremely strong currents.
Second Tragedy: Boys Drown in Waterlogged Pit in Mukhmelpur
In a separate incident on the same day, two boys aged 8 and 10 drowned in a water-filled pit in Mukhmelpur village. Police received information about the incident at 6:08 pm, while the Delhi Fire Services were alerted at 5:55 pm. Local residents pulled the children from the pit and rushed them to Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra (SRHC) Hospital in Narela, where doctors declared both boys brought dead on arrival.
Preliminary inquiry revealed the children had gone to play in agricultural fields behind a house at around 4 pm and accidentally fell into the pit, which had been excavated to collect excess rainwater from nearby fields. Investigators suspect the excavation site may not have been adequately secured, rendering it hazardous for children in the vicinity. Police said the pit was created for drainage purposes and to temporarily store excess rainwater from surrounding agricultural land.
A Recurring Monsoon Hazard
The twin tragedies underscore a recurring pattern during Delhi's monsoon season — swollen rivers and unguarded waterlogged excavations claim young lives annually. The Yamuna's water level typically surges sharply during July, and authorities have repeatedly warned against bathing in the river during this period. The Mukhmelpur pit incident also raises questions about the safety protocols around agricultural excavations in peri-urban Delhi, particularly when children are present in the area.
Authorities have not yet indicated whether any action will be taken against those responsible for the unsecured pit. The search for the fourth missing child in the Yamuna remains ongoing.
Point of View
Yet enforcement at vulnerable stretches like Hiranki remains thin. The Mukhmelpur pit case is equally telling: an unsecured excavation in a residential-agricultural zone killed two children, and the first question investigators are asking is whether it was 'properly secured' — not who was responsible for ensuring it was. Delhi loses children to these preventable drownings year after year, and the response cycle — rescue, recover, warn, repeat — has not changed. Until liability is fixed and physical barriers are mandated, the warnings will keep coming and so will the casualties.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children drowned in the Yamuna near Alipur?
Four minors drowned in the Yamuna River near Thokar No. 24 in Hiranki village, Alipur, on Sunday. As of Wednesday, 13 July, three bodies have been recovered and the search for the fourth child is ongoing.
Which agencies are conducting the rescue operation?
The Delhi Fire Service and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with other local agencies, launched a joint rescue and search operation immediately after the incident was reported. The operation was suspended Sunday night due to poor visibility and resumed the following day.
What happened in the Mukhmelpur village drowning?
Two boys aged 8 and 10 fell into a water-filled pit in Mukhmelpur village on Sunday afternoon while playing in agricultural fields. They were pulled out by local residents and taken to SRHC Hospital in Narela, where both were declared brought dead on arrival.
Was anyone held responsible for the unsecured pit in Mukhmelpur?
As of the latest reports, no arrests or formal action have been announced. Investigators suspect the excavation site — dug for agricultural drainage — may not have been properly secured, making it hazardous for children in the area. The inquiry is ongoing.
Why is the Yamuna particularly dangerous during monsoon?
The Yamuna's water level rises sharply during the monsoon season, significantly strengthening river currents. Authorities have warned that bathing in the river is extremely hazardous during this period and have sealed off the Alipur stretch, urging residents to stay away.
