New Delhi: For Ankit’s family, Friday evening ended with a phone call no family wants to receive. The 18 year old went missing after falling into a rain filled open drain in southeast Delhi, and despite an overnight search, there was still no word on his whereabouts by Saturday evening.
Ankit had finished work in Noida and was on his way home when the incident happened around 8 pm in the Priyanka Camp area, near a bridge under the Sarita Vihar police station. Heavy rain had sent water rushing through the drain.
According to people at the spot, Ankit tried to cross the area and lost his footing. He fell into the drain and was swept away almost immediately by the strong current. People nearby tried to help, but the water was moving too quickly for anyone to safely reach him.
His father, Sunil, rushed to the police after learning what had happened. Police teams and divers began looking for Ankit that night, but darkness made the operation difficult. The search resumed the next day, with NDRF personnel and divers also joining the effort.
Ankit is the elder of two children. He worked as a pantry worker at A1 Silverstein Service Measurement in Sector 62, Noida, and was returning home after work when the accident occurred.His father has appealed to authorities to intensify the search. For the family, every passing hour has meant more uncertainty.
The incident has also raised questions about the dangers of open drains during Delhi’s monsoon. Bhagwan Jha, the Up Pradhan of the colony, said residents had previously complained about the open drain. He was at the spot when Ankit fell and said the force of the water left those nearby with little chance of reaching him.
The tragedy unfolded as heavy rain disrupted life across Delhi NCR. Several areas were badly waterlogged, with MB Road near the Air Force Station seeing water levels of nearly four feet. Okhla Mor, Khanpur, Deoli, Ambedkar Nagar and Sangam Vihar were among other areas affected by flooding and traffic disruption.
But while the city begins to move on after the rain, one family is still waiting.They are waiting for the search teams to find Ankit and for the phone call that could finally tell them what happened to their son.