Eleven youths drowned after their boat capsized which was carrying around 19 people in two boats during Ganesh idol immersion at Lower Lake of the state capital in the wee hours on Friday; six persons were rescued.

In a heart wrenching incident 11 devotees of 100 Quarter area of Piplani of state capital who went for Ganesh idol immersion drowned after their boats capsized.

District administration, SDRF, NDRF and police teams rushed to the spot and started rescue operation but managed to save only six while fished out bodies of 11 youths in the rescue operation which till the early morning hours.

Four people who have facilitated boats for immersion have been arrested.

The four are identified as Akash Batham, Changu, Shubham Batham and Abhisek Batham of Bhoipura.  Police have registered a case of death caused due to negligence against the nabbed accused.

It was found that Prempura ghat along the lake was designated place for immersion but the group went to another ghat at Khatlapura and despite an NDRF team’s presence none of the members of team stopped them from mounting the boat. Shockingly ambulance was also not present at the spot.

On the part of BMC which is responsible for organizing the immersions safely has failed miserably and it has suspended Deputy City Engineer RK Saxena and Fire Officer Sajid Khan. 

DIG Irshad Wali after finding that ASI Shivvachan Yadav posted at Aishbagh police station deployed at Khatlapura ghat was not present on duty was suspended.

Revenue Inspector Anil Gawhane was suspended by District Collector Tarun Pithode after it was that Anil failed to deliver duties which he was assigned. He was assigned to check arrangements from 2 in the night till the end of the immersion. 

The deceased were identified as Parvez (22), Rohit Maurya (30), Karan Kumar (18), Harsh Hari (22), Sunny Thakare(22), Rahul Verma(20), Vicky (19), Vishal(23), Arjun Sharma(18) , Rahul Mishra(18) and Karan (26) all were resident of 100 Quarters area Piplani.

Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh each to the families of the deceased and has ordered a magisterial probe into the matter. Also, he said that culprits will not be spared.