Bhopal/Dhar, May 25 (IANS) Two youths, who were reportedly employees of a private cement company, drowned in the deep waters of the Narmada River while bathing at the Semalda Narmada Ghat in Manawar tehsil of Dhar district, officials said on Monday.

The incident happened on Sunday evening. After a prolonged rescue operation lasting nearly 15 hours, divers recovered the bodies of both young men on Monday morning. The deceased have been identified as Pooran Yadav and Dinesh Yadav, both residents of Kotputli in Rajasthan, police officials said. They were employed at the company’s plant in Tonki, Manawar.

On Sunday, the four friends — Pooran Yadav, Dinesh Yadav, Manoj Yadav, and Naveen Yogi — had gone to the Semalda Narmada Ghat around 5 p.m. to relax and bathe in the river during their weekly off day. While bathing, Pooran and Dinesh suddenly drifted into a deeper section of the river, approximately 15 to 20 feet deep, and were caught in a strong current.

Their companions and local boatmen immediately launched a rescue attempt, but the strong flow of the river made it impossible to save them.

Naveen Yogi, one of the survivors, recounted that he and Manoj had stayed in the shallower part and were watching their friends when the incident occurred.

Upon receiving information, Manawar police and administrative officials reached the spot and initiated a search operation with the help of local villagers and boatmen.

The rescue efforts continued till late Sunday night but had to be suspended due to darkness. The operation resumed on Monday morning in the presence of family members, leading to the recovery of both bodies.

Local villagers revealed that a crocodile had been spotted at the same ghat around 10 a.m. on Sunday, and a video of the sighting had gone viral on social media. Warnings had been issued advising people not to venture into the water, but the four friends were unaware of the danger.

–IANS

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