Ludhiana: Relatives and neighbours of the victims who drowned in the Yamuna River in Vrindavan have expressed outrage over the total lack of safety measures during boating. They alleged that the tragedy was a direct result of unchecked boat overloading, the presence of floating pontoons, and the complete absence of life jackets. In the Dugri Phase-II area, where residents share close-knit bonds, a wave of shock has prevailed following the deaths of three neighbours—Rakesh Gulati, Anju Gulati, and Meenu Bansal—while Meenu’s daughter, Dinki, remains missing.Rajesh Garg, a relative of the Bansal family, questioned the administration’s failure to regulate the number of devotees and the lack of safety gear. He pointed out the danger posed by floating pontoons, asking why the administration did not ensure boats kept a safe distance from the pontoon bridge. Balbir Kumar, relative of survivor Rajinder Kaur, shared that Kaur was rescued by another boat operator and was the first to alert the families in Ludhiana. She remains in deep trauma and is currently unable to speak. Local resident Madhu Bala noted that many neighbours had seen WhatsApp videos of the group singing and dancing just hours before the mishap, blaming reckless administration for the loss of life.Newlywed Woman Among MissingApart from Dinki Bansal, Monika Chaudhary of Pakhowal Road is also missing. Monika’s mother-in-law, Savita, who previously lived in Dugri Phase-II, had taken her daughter-in-law on the pilgrimage. Monika had married Savita’s son, Rajit, only three months ago and was preparing to join him in Australia. She was last seen dancing with the group in Nidhivan in a video uploaded to social media. While Savita escaped the mishap unhurt, Monika remains untraced. The Chaudhary family has reached Vrindavan to join the search operations.
