Seven women drown at Maner’s Ganga ghats after Karma‑Dharma puja, three still missing

Maner’s Haldi Chapra ghat on the banks of the Ganga became the scene of a tragic drowning on Saturday after a local Karma‑Dharma puja. Seven women – a mix of teenagers and young adults – stepped into the river for a ritual bath and were swept away by the current.
Local residents quickly formed a rescue team and managed to pull four of the women to safety. The rescued include two unnamed survivors who were taken to a nearby hospital for observation.
Three women – identified as Sanju Devi, Anjali Kumari and Preeti Kumari – could not be located despite extensive searches by villagers and police. Authorities have launched a formal investigation and are coordinating with river‑bank officials to locate the missing.
The incident has raised concerns about safety measures at crowded ghats during religious gatherings, with officials urging the public to observe caution and for authorities to improve crowd control.
Police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that timely tips could aid the ongoing rescue efforts.