Six Youths Drown in Damodar River in Dhanbad; Four Bodies Recovered, Search Continues for Two Missing

Dhanbad — A tragic incident unfolded in Dhanbad on Wednesday when six youths drowned in the Damodar River near the Telmocho Bridge on the Dhanbad–Bokaro highway. Officials confirmed that the bodies of four victims have been recovered, while the search continues for the remaining two.

One of the deceased has been identified as Vijay Yadav, a resident of Bhuli A-Block in Dhanbad. Teams of local divers, assisted by villagers, are still searching for the missing individuals.

The tragedy occurred when two separate groups of 10 youths had gathered at the river to take a holy dip on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. The first group, hailing from Bhimkanali under Baghmara police station, entered the river around 11 a.m. Five of them were caught in a strong current — three were rescued by locals, but two, identified as Sumit Rai (17) and Sunny Chauhan (21), went missing.

The second group, from Bhuli A-Block, consisted of five friends — Vijay Yadav, Rohit alias Chhotu, Rohan alias Golu, Priyanshu, and Anish. While Priyanshu stayed on the riverbank, the others entered the water and did not return. When they failed to resurface, Priyanshu raised an alarm and informed their families.

By Thursday morning, tension gripped the area as the bodies remained untraced. Angry locals and relatives blocked the Dhanbad–Bokaro highway, demanding swift action and a more effective rescue operation.

Police and civil officials arrived at the scene and eventually convinced the protestors to end the road blockade.

Locals alleged that illegal sand mining in the Damodar River has changed its depth and flow, making it increasingly dangerous and prone to drowning accidents. They urged authorities to take strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Baghmara Block Development Officer Girjanand Kisku confirmed that six youths from Bhimkanali and Bhuli drowned in the river’s strong current. “Four bodies have been recovered so far. The search for the remaining two is ongoing. The NDRF team is yet to arrive, and the operation will be intensified once they reach,” he said.

With inputs from IANS