Tragedy During Ganga Bathing Ritual in UP: Six Drown, Four Rescued, Two Missing After Asthi Visarjan

KKN Gurugram Desk | In a deeply tragic turn of events, a religious ritual along the Ganga river in Budaun district, Uttar Pradesh, led to a drowning incident involving six individuals from Rajasthan, who had come for the asthi visarjan (immersion of ashes) of a deceased family member.

While four people were successfully rescued by divers, two teenage boys remain missing, and search operations are underway. The incident occurred on the morning of Monday, 19 May 2025, near Kachhla Ghat in the Ujhani area of Budaun.

What Happened: Drowning Incident During Ritual Bath

Timeline of the Incident:

• A group of about 35 people from Pirnagar village, under Chiksana police station in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, arrived at Kachhla Ghat around 10 AM on Monday.

• They had come via tractor-trolley to perform asthi visarjan.

• After completing the ritual, many of the group members entered the Ganga river for a ceremonial bath.

• During the bath, six individuals—including a young woman—ventured into deeper waters and began drowning.

Their cries for help prompted a panic situation, with locals and other pilgrims raising alarms.

Quick Response by Divers Saves Four Lives

As chaos ensued, local divers and boatmen present at the site quickly jumped into the river and managed to rescue four of the six drowning individuals through a swift and courageous operation.

Rescued Individuals Identified:

1. Rajrani, 19, daughter of Viri Singh

2. Gaurav, 21, son of Vijay Singh

3. Diwan, 17, son of Viri Singh

4. Monu, 18, son of Indra Kumar

While the rescue was successful, the condition of Rajrani remains critical, and she has been admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ujhani for emergency treatment.

Two Teenagers Still Missing

Despite the timely rescue of four individuals, two young boys are still missing:

• Sumit, 17, son of Vijay Singh

• Sumir, 16, son of Ramveer

Efforts to locate them are ongoing, with a full-scale rescue and search operation led by professional divers and local police.

Police and Rescue Teams on High Alert

Under the supervision of Ujhani Kotwali Station In-charge, Neeraj Malik, a team of divers and local authorities is carrying out an intensive search in the river.

“We are using all available resources. The divers are scanning every possible section of the river. We hope to trace the missing boys soon,” said Neeraj Malik.

The police have also reached out to state disaster response teams, and additional divers may be deployed if needed.

Witness Account: ‘It All Happened in Seconds’

Locals and relatives described the scene as devastating. A family member shared:

“We were just finishing our bath when we heard people screaming. By the time we rushed, the children had already disappeared under the water. It all happened so quickly.”

Eyewitnesses confirm that the victims likely underestimated the depth and current of the river, especially on the Kasganj side, where the water flow is more unpredictable.

Religious Rituals in Ganga: Spiritual Significance, Safety Neglected

The Ganga river holds immense religious significance in Hinduism, especially for rituals like asthi visarjan. Every year, thousands of devotees gather at major ghats in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar for such ceremonies.

However, incidents like this expose a serious lack of safety protocols at many riverfronts:

• Absence of lifeguards or warning signs

• Lack of barricades near deep water zones

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• No deployment of rescue personnel during peak pilgrimage hours

Despite being a known high-risk zone, Kachhla Ghat reportedly had no active warning system in place at the time of the accident.

Local Administration Under Scrutiny

Following the incident, questions are being raised over administrative preparedness and crowd management at such high-footfall religious locations.

Sources indicate that:

• No temporary warning flags were put up near deep water zones

• No safety announcements were made regarding river depth

• Locals allege a lack of government presence despite knowing that large groups arrive regularly for rituals

Statement from Local Officials and Authorities

The local tehsil administration issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident and assuring full cooperation in the search operation.

“The district administration is monitoring the rescue efforts. Health officials have been directed to provide all necessary medical aid to the rescued. We are reviewing security measures for such locations,” said a spokesperson from Budaun administration.

Meanwhile, religious heads and community leaders have urged the government to prioritize safety at major ghats, especially during summer and monsoon seasons when water flow and heat risks increase.

Recurring Issue: Ganga River Drownings in Northern India

This incident is, unfortunately, not an isolated one. Every year, dozens of drowning cases are reported from the Ganga river during:

• Chhath Puja

• Ganga Dussehra

• Kartik Purnima

• Family rituals like asthi visarjan

While religious fervor is admirable, these incidents highlight the urgent need for preventive measures and community education.

How Tragedies Like This Can Be Prevented

Experts and rescue personnel suggest a few immediate steps to prevent such mishaps:

1. Designated Safe Zones for Rituals

Areas should be cordoned off with floating barricades to separate deep water zones from safe bathing areas.

2. Mandatory Life Jackets for Pilgrims

Just like in boat rides, people entering the river must wear basic floating devices, especially children.

3. Lifeguards and Rescue Boats

Ghats should have permanent rescue teams with lifeboats during peak days.

4. Public Address Systems

Loudspeakers should issue safety warnings about strong currents and depth changes.

5. Community Awareness Campaigns

Through local temples and NGOs, people should be educated about basic water safety.

Emotional Impact on the Families and Community

The families from Rajasthan are reportedly devastated. What began as a spiritual pilgrimage to honor a loved one’s memory has turned into an unimaginable personal tragedy.

Community members from Pirnagar, Bharatpur, are expected to arrive in Uttar Pradesh for support and to help locate the missing boys.

The mood at Kachhla Ghat remains somber, with prayers being offered for the missing and hopes of a miracle rescue.

The drowning incident during the Ganga bath in Budaun is a painful reminder of how quickly spiritual journeys can turn tragic in the absence of basic precautions. As families mourn, and search teams continue their work, one hopes that this will serve as a wake-up call for both local administrations and pilgrims to prioritize safety alongside devotion.

Until stricter safety measures and awareness are implemented, such incidents risk becoming a recurring tragedy during one of India’s most sacred acts of remembrance.