Seven members of a family, including minors, were feared drowned in the Narmada River at Poicha in the Narmada district of Gujarat after reportedly being swept away by the river current on Tuesday, May 14.
Local divers of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) and the Vadodara fire team started a search operation for the victims. So far no traces have been found yet. According to the police the victims were part of a group from Surat which had arrived at Poicha on the border of Vadodara and Narmada districts.
Search Operation Underway
Officials rushed to the spot after the victims were swept away on Tuesday morning. A unit of the 6BN NDRF from Jarod in the Vadodara district arrived in Poicha in the afternoon to begin the search operation for the seven people who went missing.
Poicha is a popular summer picnic spot for swimming in the Narmada River. The Narmada district administration recently prohibited local boat operators from operating boats without a license in the river. At the same time, boatmen continue to operate boats on the Vadodara district side of the river.
"At around 12 pm yesterday, 8 people from Surat started drowning in the river. Some locals rescued a person but 7 others were missing . 2 NDRF teams and fire teams are carrying out rescue operations. One body has been recovered and a search for 6 others is underway," said Province Officer Narmada, Kishan Dan Gadhvi.
NDRF Vadodara Inspector Ashutosh Shrimal said, "NDRF and fire teams are present here. A body was recovered today at around 8 am. Two boats are carrying out a rescue operation. The search for 6 bodies is underway."