2 dead, 2 missing after drowning during Durga idol immersion in Maharashtra, search ops on

The police officials are yet to identify the four people who have gone missing.

Two bodies have been recovered from Kalu river in Maharashtra on Thursday where four people went missing after drowning during Durga idol immersion. The rescue team is conducting search operations for two more people who drowned in the wee hours of Wednesday night and are reportedly missing.

Search is on for people who are said to have drowned during idol immersion in the Durga Puja festivities. (HT Photo/ Sourced)

The dead have been identified as Rupesh Pawar and Hemant Waydante.

According to fire officials, four out of the total eight people who fell into the river managed to swim to safety. The village is situated in Titwala, 29 kilometres from Mumbai.

The Kalyan fire brigade’s team and one fire tender initiated search operations after receiving a call around 2.45 am about the drowning.

“When our team reached the spot, people informed us that eight people fell into the river - out of which four managed to swim out,” Dilip Gund, chief fire officer of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) said.

Eight local swimmers have been deployed in the search operations under the water, while another separate team is working on the banks of the river, the officials said.

“The search operation is still on and our team is search the entire locality,”added Gund.