Updated | Monday, July 13, 2026 | 08:40 PM IST Alipur Yamuna Drowning Incident: Search Continues for Two Missing Schoolboys .The search operation is still underway in the Yamuna River for two of the four schoolboys who went missing after being swept away by the strong current in Alipur, Delhi, on Sunday evening.
The four friends, aged 14 to 15 years, were swept away while bathing in the river on Sunday (July 12, 2026). During the rescue operation, the bodies of two children have been recovered, while search teams continue to look for the remaining two.
Rescue Teams Face Difficult Conditions
Due to the ongoing monsoon season and the release of water from upstream hilly regions, the water level of the Yamuna River has risen significantly.
Rescue personnel are facing major challenges because of the strong river currents, heavy silt deposits, and submerged debris, making underwater search operations extremely difficult.
The river is flowing above its normal level, causing the water near the banks to become unusually deep. Authorities believe the children underestimated both the depth and the force of the current, and were quickly swept away after entering the river.
Families Were at Work When the Incident Occurred
According to available information, the parents of the children were away at their respective workplaces when the tragedy took place.The father of one of the missing boys, Anshu, Shyam Bihari Shah, works in a private job as a daily wage worker in Delhi. Since receiving news of the incident, he has been waiting anxiously on the banks of the Yamuna, hoping for news of his son.
The four boys involved in the tragedy—Anshu, Saurabh, Amandeep, and Rahul—all belonged to middle-class working families. The parents of the other children also earn their livelihood through daily wage labour, factory work, or other small private-sector jobs.
Families Allege Delay in Rescue Response
The victims’ families have been devastated by the tragedy.The father of missing teenager Anshu, Shyam Bihari Shah, along with other relatives, alleged that rescue teams reached the site later than expected on Monday morning.
However, once the operation commenced, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers, supported by boats and local authorities, carried out an extensive search operation in the river.
Funeral Formalities Yet to Begin
As of Monday evening, the final rites of the two recovered children had not yet been performed, as legal and administrative formalities were still underway.Under standard legal procedure in India, bodies recovered from rivers or accident sites are not handed over immediately for cremation or burial.
They are first sent to the mortuary of the nearest government hospital—such as Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital or Raja Harish Chandra Hospital—where a post-mortem examination is conducted before the bodies are released to their families.
Previous Updated Jul 13, 2026 at 12:58
India Prime State Desk | Monday, July 13, 2026 Alipur Tragedy: Four Schoolboys Drown in Yamuna River;A tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening (July 12) near Hiranki Village in the Alipur Police Station area of North Outer Delhi, where four minor schoolboys drowned in the Yamuna River after being swept away by the strong current. Authorities have recovered the bodies of two children, while search operations are continuing for the remaining two.
Names of the Children
All four boys were around 15 years old and were residents of the Ibrahimpur area.
- Rahul, son of Satish, resident of DCM Colony
- Anshu, son of Shyam Bihari Shah, resident of DCM Colony
- Saurabh, son of Deepak, resident near the Bus Stand
- Amandeep, son of Mahendra Singh, resident of E-Block
A fifth friend, Lucky, survived after remaining on the riverbank and raising the alarm.
How the Tragedy Happened
Five Friends Had Gone to the River
According to police, five school friends aged between 14 and 15 years had gone to Thokar No. 24 near Hiranki Village on Sunday evening to spend time together.
Police received a PCR call between approximately 7:30 PM and 7:45 PM reporting that four boys had been swept away by the river.
Strong Monsoon Current
After their clothes became dirty while playing, four of the boys entered the river to bathe, while Lucky stayed on the bank.
Due to the ongoing monsoon, the Yamuna’s water level had risen significantly and the current was extremely strong. The boys reportedly formed a human chain while entering the water, but one of them lost his footing. As they tried to hold on to each other, all four were pulled into deeper water by the powerful current.
Fifth Friend Raised the Alarm
Lucky immediately shouted for help after seeing his friends being swept away, alerting local residents who rushed to the scene.
Eyewitness Account
A local resident working in nearby fields described the incident:
“We were working in the nearby fields when we suddenly heard a boy crying and shouting for help from the riverbank. We rushed toward Thokar No. 24 and saw the four boys desperately holding each other’s hands while struggling against the strong current. The force of the water was so powerful that within moments they disappeared beneath the river before our eyes. We tried to rescue them, but the current was simply too strong.”
Official Statement
According to officials from the North Outer Delhi Police and the Delhi Fire Service (DFS):
“We received a PCR call around 7:30 PM on Sunday reporting that five minor boys had gone to bathe in the Yamuna near Hiranki Village, and four of them had been swept away by the strong current. Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Delhi Fire Service, and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) immediately launched a rescue operation using boats. Due to darkness and poor visibility, the operation had to be suspended on Sunday night and was resumed on Monday morning. Further legal procedures will be carried out after the recovery of the victims.”
Rescue Operation and Latest Update
Search Teams Deployed
Following the emergency call, teams from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and local police reached the site with motorboats and divers.
Two Bodies Recovered
During the rescue operation on Sunday night, authorities recovered the bodies of two children.
However, the operation was suspended at around 10:30 PM because of darkness and poor underwater visibility.
Search Resumes
The rescue operation resumed on Monday morning (July 13, 2026) as teams continued searching for the remaining two missing children.
Public Advisory
In view of rising water levels during the monsoon season, local authorities have urged residents—especially children—to stay away from the Yamuna River, riverbanks, and deep-water areas to prevent similar tragedies.
Keywords: Delhi News, Yamuna River Accident, Alipur News, Hiranki Village, Delhi Drowning Case, NDRF Rescue Operation, Breaking News Delhi.
