NEW DELHI, July 2: The bodies of two more children -- Pawandeep Pal Singh, 13, and Tayyab, 17 -- who drowned in the Yamuna near Wazirabad last evening were found by Navy divers this afternoon. The divers are still searching for the body of the fourth victim, Devender. Pawandeep's brother Narender, 12, was rescued by a fisherman's son last night. He died later in hospital.The police said that Pawandeep's body was recovered at around 1.30 p.m. today by diver Azad Singh from near the centre of the river, and about 100 metres downstream from the spot where he is believed to have drowned. Tayyab's body was found three hours later.
Singh told Express Newsline: ``Pawandeep's body was stuck in the middle of some rocks. I was underwater for more than an hour before I found him.''
The divers as well as Devender's relatives now hope that they manage to find his body as soon as possible. Devender's father Ram Chander was still waiting near the banks of the Yamuna when this report was filed.
Among the several possibilities that are being considered reasons for the tragedy, is the position of the sluice gates on the Yamuna barrage.Some fishermen in the area said that when the boys went for a swim, all the the gates of the barrage were open. ``This leads to a tremendous flow of water which can sweep away any swimmer if he is not experienced.''
Three of the gates were closed soon after the incident was reported and nets placed across the remaining three.
The difference between the school bus tragedy in November at the same place and the one that happened last evening as far as the rescue efforts are concerned, is that this time the water was much deeper.
The local fishermen pointed out that this had hampered early recovery of the bodies. It was only after the Navy divers arrived with their underwater breathing apparatus that the two bodies could be located today.
The fishermen speculate that Devender's body should be found around the same place where the bodies of the others were found.
``When the gates are opened, a vicious and very fast circular current is created which draws the body towards the barrage. So the body may be found somewhere near the gates,'' they said.
Senior police officials said that they are exploring the possibility of setting up a permanent river patrol on the Yamuna, especially during and after the monsoons.
Another proposal is to recruit the services of fishermen-cum-divers who live along the banks of the Yamuna on a permanent basis. These divers will also be provided with life-belts and other life-saving equipment which can be used in case a similar incident recurs.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
