Narmada Tragedy: Rajasthan Migrant Workers Missing After Swim

A routine Sunday outing ended in heartbreak for two families from Rajasthan after two migrant workers went missing in the Narmada River at Semalda village in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. The victims, identified as Puran and Dinesh, were part of a group of four friends who had stepped into the river for a swim. All four men worked at a cement company located in Tonki village, Manawar tehsil. They had chosen the Semalda ghat for their weekly break, unaware of the sudden drop in river depth. According to eyewitnesses, the group ventured into a 15-to-20-foot-deep pocket and two of them were quickly overcome by the current. Manoj Yadav and Naveen Yogi were rescued by local boat operators who heard their cries for help. Police and revenue officials reached the location shortly after 6 pm and launched a coordinated search involving divers, fishermen and police boats. The operation continued through the night without success. District authorities have deployed additional resources, including a team from the state disaster response force, to scan the riverbed. Family members of the missing workers have arrived in Dhar and are staying at a local guesthouse while they wait for updates. The incident has prompted local leaders to demand better safety measures at river ghats frequented by migrant labourers. Officials say they will examine the possibility of installing warning boards and deploying lifeguards during peak summer months.