Teens try to retrieve cricket ball, drown in Hindon canal

Two persons, including a 16-year-old boy, drowned while trying to retrieve a ball from a canal in east Delhi’s Gazipur on Thursday, police said.

The victims have been identified as Aakash, 19, a resident of Rajbir Colony, and his neighbour Rohit, a class 9 student. According to police, the incident occurred around noon at Hindon canal when a group was playing cricket.

“Aakash and Rohit were with some of their friends at a ground near Shankhwar Hospital. While playing, a ball went into the Hindon canal after which Rohit stepped in to take it out,” a police officer said.

However, his leg slipped and got trapped in the canal. When Rohit screamed for help, Aakash jumped into the canal to save him.

“Aakash could not balance himself and collapsed. Both of them were then washed away in the canal after which onlookers made a call to the police control room,” the officer added.
A team of local police, professional divers and fire officials rushed the spot. Their bodies were later fished out by the divers and taken to Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospital. They were, however, declared brought dead.

Police have preserved the bodies for post-mortem and will hand over to family on Friday.
“Prima facie, it seems that there was no foul play in the incident. However, we are investigating it from all possible angles,” the officer said.

Investigators have questioned family members and friends of Aakash and Rohit to find out if they had enmity with anyone.