Delhi man goes missing after falling into Ganga from under-construction bridge in Rishikesh

“The man had recently turned 31 and, in his excitement, tried to do something daring…Soni and his two friends drove the car to the under-construction bridge, opened the gates that barred entry, and went in…while walking on the bridge, he slipped and fell,” said a police officer.

Search operations began after Soni’s friends – Amit Soni and Akshat Seth – informed the police of their friend’s fall, officers said.

Despite efforts by rescue teams, Soni has not been traced yet, said police.

The bridge, which is being built parallel to the historic Lakshman Jhula, is still under construction, with work ongoing to install transparent glass plates on the floor. Police said that Soni could have stepped into an incomplete part of the bridge without realising.

Soni’s family, who hail from Madhya Pradesh, said they were not aware that he had gone for a trip. “He was working in Delhi and lived away from us…we are still keeping hopes that he will be found. We are waiting for the police to update us,” said Vinod Soni, the victim’s uncle. The family refused to comment on the situation further.

The Bajrang Bridge, envisioned as a modern replacement for the closed Lakshman Jhula, is designed with a transparent glass floor to attract tourists. However, authorities have cautioned against unauthorised entry until the structure is completed and safety checks are finalised.