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Bhopal/Rishikesh, Oct 23 (IANS) After a heart-wrenching discovery, the body of 31-year-old software engineer Hemant Soni was recovered from a dam about 15 km downstream of Rishikesh on Thursday.
Following the recovery of the body, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed deep grief through a statement: “The news of the death of engineer Hemant Soni, a resident of Prithvipur in Niwari district, who went missing after falling into the Ganga river from an under-construction bridge in Rishikesh, is extremely saddening. The government stands with the bereaved families in this hour of crisis. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul.”
Soni, a resident of Prithvipur town in Madhya Pradesh’s Niwari district but reportedly works and lives in Delhi’s Hauz Khas area, went missing after accidentally falling into the waters of river Ganga from the under-construction Bajrang Setu bridge near Laxman Jhula on the night of October 16.
The incident, which occurred at around 9.15 pm while he was engaged in a phone conversation, highlighted the dangers of unsafe construction sites and distractions near fast-flowing rivers.
Soni had set out on a trip from Prithvipur on October 14 with his friend Akshat Seth (in some reports he is also called Akshay Seth).
They reached Delhi on 15 October, where Soni’s cousin Amit Soni also joined them. The three went to Haridwar for a short time before reaching Rishikesh on the evening of 16 October.
According to police accounts, the group reached the Bajrang Setu bridge, a glass-floored structure still under construction, around 9 pm.
The site proved dangerous due to the lack of security guards, warning signs or proper barriers. Eyewitnesses including Amit told that while talking on mobile, the sound of splash was heard after Soni moved forward.
Amit immediately informed the nearest police station, but officers arrived after about 20 minutes. Nighttime conditions—strong currents and cold temperatures—prevented an immediate search for the boat.
The next day, on 17 October, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a massive operation.
Divers battled the river’s strong currents while drones scanned eight kilometers down, but initial efforts yielded no results. As the days passed without any trace,
Soni’s family became very worried.
His uncle, Bharat Soni, publicly appealed for intensified efforts, including helicopter deployment and involvement of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The matter gained momentum when Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav intervened. Responding to the family’s pleas, Yadav personally called Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on October 19 and urged him to expedite rescue operations. Yadav later expressed his involvement through specific posts on the matter on social media.
After a week of tireless efforts amid challenging river conditions, Uttarakhand Police confirmed the recovery around 10 am on October 23.
The body was sent for post-mortem to know the exact cause of death, however, drowning is suspected.
Officials noted that the incomplete state of the bridge contributed to the accident, leading to calls for strict safety protocols at construction sites near tourist hotspots.
The tragedy has sparked discussion on pedestrian safety near rivers and the dangers of mobile distractions. Soni, whom the family describes as a dedicated professional and family pillar, has left behind a void amid the Diwali festivities.
–IANS
SKTR/PGH