Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed grief over the incident. (Representative)
Ajmer, Rajasthan:
Six people drowned in a ditch filled with rain water during the immersion of an idol of Goddess Durga in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district on Wednesday. Police gave this information.
The incident is from Nandla village of Nasirabad Sadar police station area where the youth had gone for idol immersion.
Ajmer Superintendent of Police Chuna Ram Jat said the ditch is often used by locals for idol immersion, but it appeared they had no idea of the depth this time.
He said that initially five bodies were recovered, but later one more person was reported missing following which rescue operation was launched.
The sixth body was recovered in the evening, he said.
SHO Hemraj said the victim thought it was a shallow ditch and went down “but the ditch was deep and they all drowned.” Ajmer Collector Ansh Deep, SP Chuna Ram Jat and other district administration and police officers reached Nasirabad as soon as the incident was reported.
Police identified the deceased as Pawan Raigar (35), Gajendra Raigar (28), Rahul Meghwal (24), Lucky Bairwa (21) Rahul Raigar (20) and Shankar, whose age could not be immediately ascertained.
The five bodies that were initially recovered were handed over to the family members after the postmortem and their last rites were performed.
Officials said Shankar’s body would be handed over to his family on Thursday, which was later recovered.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed grief over the incident.
Mr Gehlot tweeted, “I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family, may God give them strength to bear this loss and may the departed soul rest in peace.”
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)