Mohali: The body of one of the two men who were swept away by the swollen Ghaggar river while fishing near Bhankharpur in Derabassi was recovered on Sunday, nearly 40 hours after the incident. The search for the second missing man is still underway.The deceased has been identified as Darshan, a resident of Manimajra. His body was recovered by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) near the Banur Weir after river waters receded. Officials said the body was found during a search operation about one kilometre downstream of the weir.The second missing man, Surinder, is yet to be traced despite an intensive search by rescue teams.According to the police, Darshan, Surinder and their companion Chanda, all residents of Manimajra, had gone fishing in the Ghaggar river near Bhankharpur around 2:30pm on Friday. During the outing, Darshan allegedly slipped into the swollen river and was swept away by the strong current.Surinder entered the river in an attempt to rescue him but was also swept away by the fast-flowing water. Chanda tried to save both men but could not withstand the force of the current. He managed to save himself by holding on to the roots of bushes and trees along the riverbank.Following the incident, the Mubarakpur police, along with NDRF personnel, launched a search and rescue operation. SI Kulwant Singh, in-charge of the Mubarakpur police post, said flood control authorities and police stations in downstream areas had been alerted immediately after the incident.He said search teams were continuing to comb downstream stretches of the river to trace the missing man.Swept Away By Fast CurrentTwo men swept away while fishing in swollen Ghaggar river near Bhankharpur, DerabassiIncident occurred Friday afternoon around 2:30pm.Body of Darshan recovered on Sunday, nearly 40 hours later, near Banur Weir after waters recededSurinder still missing despite intensive search operations downstreamThird companion Chanda survived by clinging to bushes and trees along the riverbankPolice and NDRF launched rescue immediately; downstream stations and flood control authorities alertedSearch teams continue combing river stretches to trace the missing manBox: Ghaggar Turns Treacherous In MonsoonDuring heavy monsoon rains, the Ghaggar river turns fast and unpredictable, making activities like bathing, swimming or fishing extremely dangerous. In 2025, rescue teams were deployed after people were reportedly swept away in the swollen Ghaggar following heavy rainfall in the Derabassi belt. Every monsoon, the river witnesses a sharp rise in water level and current speed, with floodwaters carrying debris, creating deep channels and making the riverbed unstable.Authorities’ advice: Police and disaster management agencies routinely urge residents to avoid fishing, bathing or attempting to cross the Ghaggar during periods of heavy rain, as even experienced swimmers can be overpowered by the strong current.
