Day after 9 feared washed away, kin give up hope, await bitter news — officially

Till now only the body of one Jitender, 16, has been recovered. According to police, a farmer from Jagatpur area found Jitender’s body at Shyam Ghat, on Yamuna banks.

The police, fire department and municipal officials failed to recover any body on Friday. Victims of those missing, though, have as good as given up hope. On Thursday evening, nine people had gone missing after getting into the Yamuna at Sonia Vihar Pushta, North Delhi, to immerse Durga idol.

Locals said some 40 people had gone for the immersion from their Taali Basti in Anand Parbat. All packed in a tempo, they headed for Wazirabad but, denied permission since their Durga Puja is not registered, they changed course and headed for Sonia Vihar Pushta instead.

Raj Kumar, elder brother of one of the victims, Rajman, said there’s no news from the authorities as yet: “He has a five-month-old son and was the family’s only earning member. Who is going to take care of them now?”

Sonu, 13, is also missing. His father Daya Ram, unemployed himself, had found solace a few days ago — when Sonu got a job at one of the small factories in the area. Daya Ram has five other children, and the anxiety to feed so many mouths is showing. “This was the first time Sonu went to the ghat for the immersion,” he said. “He insisted on accompanying his uncle; now see what has happened...”

Aftab had gone for the immersion with his elder cousin Asif. Now both are missing. Aftab’s father Nizam Ali said at least one member from the family goes for the immersion with local youths every year. Aftab’s mother Lalli Rahisan said, “It feels as if I have lost two sons. We were going to get Aftab married in two months.”