Navy divers join search for missing victims

The district authority summoned navy divers to help the police and fire brigade officials in search operations today.

“Navy divers have been working since early in the morning with their sophisticated gadgets. Though they have not been successful so far, officials are optimistic about the recovery of some more bodies during the next 24 hours,” said the deputy commissioner B.K. Panigrahi.

So far only two bodies, one of a woman and another of a girl, were recovered and 9 persons were rescued. The girl, who wore a red colour frock, was yet to be identified.

“Earlier during the day the heavy water flow in the Yamuna river from the Okhla barrage hindered the search operation,” Panigrahi said. Since the afternoon the water level has receded 2.5 foot after the Okhla Barrage was asked to control the flow of water, he added.

At present the Yamuna is far below the danger mark with 33,000 cusec of water while the danger level is 66,000 cusec, the official said.