A tragic incident unfolded during a pilgrimage to the Ganga River in Haridwar, where two neighbours from Ghaziabad lost their lives after one attempted to save the other from drowning.
Sachin Tyagi, 39, reportedly slipped into a deeper section of the river while taking a routine holy dip on Sunday morning and was caught in a strong current. Seeing him struggle, his neighbour, Brijesh Kumar Tripathi, 43, immediately jumped in to rescue him. However, both men were quickly overwhelmed by the force of the water and disappeared beneath the surface.
People present nearby raised an alarm, prompting police and rescue teams to launch an urgent search operation. After more than an hour of efforts, divers managed to retrieve both individuals, but they had already died.
Locals indicated that the area had previously been a designated ghat, but changes in the riverbed due to soil accumulation had made it difficult to assess water depth, increasing the risk for visitors.
The two families, who lived in the same residential society in Ghaziabad, had travelled together for the pilgrimage and were expected to return the same day. Instead, news of the tragedy reached their homes, leaving the community in deep shock.
Sachin Tyagi is survived by his wife and two daughters and was involved in the construction business. Brijesh Tripathi, who worked with a Gurugram-based company, also leaves behind his family. Their deaths have deeply affected residents, especially as both families had undertaken the journey together.
