📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Local
Two die, three rescued as friends drown during Durga idol immersion at Devendra Nagar dam, Panna
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 09:31 PM
👁 23
Five friends slipped into the Devendra Nagar dam in Panna while performing a Durga idol immersion; two were recovered dead and three were saved by rescue teams.
Panna district officials reported that five young men were in the water of the Devendra Nagar dam on Saturday as part of a Durga idol immersion ceremony. The group, reportedly friends, lost balance and fell into the reservoir, prompting an immediate rescue response.
Local rescue teams, along with volunteers, reached the site within minutes. They managed to pull three of the men to safety, but despite efforts, two of the victims could not be revived and were declared dead at the scene.
The incident has cast a somber tone over the festive celebrations in the region. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution during immersion rituals, especially near water bodies, and to follow safety guidelines to prevent similar tragedies.
Police have opened a preliminary inquiry to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the drowning, but no criminal negligence has been reported so far.
The district administration announced that the families of the deceased will receive assistance, and a memorial service is being planned for the victims.
Local rescue teams, along with volunteers, reached the site within minutes. They managed to pull three of the men to safety, but despite efforts, two of the victims could not be revived and were declared dead at the scene.
The incident has cast a somber tone over the festive celebrations in the region. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution during immersion rituals, especially near water bodies, and to follow safety guidelines to prevent similar tragedies.
Police have opened a preliminary inquiry to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the drowning, but no criminal negligence has been reported so far.
The district administration announced that the families of the deceased will receive assistance, and a memorial service is being planned for the victims.