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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
These Unsung Divers Retrieve The Forgotten Dead
New Delhi: In the filth-clogged drains and toxic canals of Delhi, a bare-bodied brigade of 15 divers pull out the capital's dead—drowned, dumped or disappeared. They dive without gear, without gloves and without complaints, pulling out bloated corpses from open drains, battling suffocating foam in polluted rivers, snake bites and the unbearable stench of decay. In the first six months of 2025, these men have pulled out 102 bodies from the capital's water bodies. May alone accounted for 32 recoveries, 27 of them from a single canal in northwest Delhi's Bawana. Based out of a boat club in Civil Lines in north Delhi, this 15-member team responds to calls from Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and National Disaster Response Force — calls that often mean a suicide, a drowned child or a murdered body stuffed in a gunny bag that needs to be retrieved. The calls come from across the capital, from Jaitpur and Kondli to Najafgarh Drain, Bhalswa Lake, the Asola Bhatti mines in Chhatarpur, Model Town Lake and the full 45-km stretch of the Yamuna. They often get calls from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant, where bodies flowing in the Munak canal usually get trapped. These divers enter drains filled with rotting garbage and dead animals. "We don't open our eyes underwater. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It's too dirty, the chemicals and the dirt sting," revealed Shabir Ahmed, who has been diving since he was 15 years old. "So we shut our eyes and feel our way forward. If we touch something, we just hope it's not a dead animal or a sharp object. And if it's a body, we hold on tight." You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi For over a decade, almost half his life, Ahmed has started his day the same way: leaving home at sunrise to report to the boat club of the DM (east) office at Civil Lines. Every time Harish, the man in charge of the club, gets a call, it signals the same grim prospect of a body in water. Without delay, a team of divers rush to the scene, aiding police and grieving families in recovering those lost to the waters. The team also has 12 motorboats, three paddle boats and a manual boat. The divers enter the water in nothing but their undergarments. There are body suits but most of the divers don't wear them. When asked, why they go bare bodied given the risks, a diver simply said, "Ab aadat ho gayi hai (We're used to it)." Bhola explained, "They don't fit well and we can't swim well wearing them as it restricts movement or gets stuck or caught in the garbage." Another young diver reiterated, "It sounds strange, but body suits don't work for us, they feel heavy and restrict movement. These drains have everything, glass shards, meat waste, liquor bottles. We're used to it by now." But some hazards are far worse. In narrow canals or near bridge pillars, divers themselves get trapped due to suction currents. Snake bites during summers are also common. Sometimes, a body has decomposed so badly that its limbs break off during recovery. "Sometimes, when you try to tug the body, the arms or legs come off in your hands," said Deep Singh, who's been at the job since he was 10. "There are dives when you come up gasping and nearly faint. " Ahmed added, "The white foam created by chemicals looks harmless in Yamuna pictures, but it's like rubber. It clogs your nose and sticks to your skin. Once you're in, it's tough to breathe, and even harder to get back out. The only way to clear it is to go over it with a boat and splash water, or call the fire department. But until that's done, the foam suffocates you." Harish added, "There's always a risk — nets, barbed wires or something sharp underwater. But we never say no. Even during Diwali or Holi, we're on standby." Last year, his teams pulled out 232 dead bodies from various waterbodies in the city. Most of these divers were raised on the Yamuna floodplain. Kushal, who now manages a team, said, "This has been our life for generations. My grandfather did it, my father did it, now I do. We all grew up in the jhuggis on the floodplain. Our families once raised flowers and vegetables on this land. But the river water is too polluted now. Govt has banned farming, so diving is our only livelihood." A 26-year-old diver added, "We learned by watching our fathers and uncles dive into the river. This isn't a job we chose, it's what we've always done. Now, even if we want to do something else, we wouldn't know how to." Each body retrieval is a story of risk. But for the divers, the mission remains the same: to bring someone's son, daughter, parent or sibling back to the surface, for closure, for final rites, for peace.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Bomb Threat At Agra Airport Sparks Panic; No Explosives Found, Probe Underway
Last Updated: The police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the email and identify the sender. A bomb threat email sent to Agra Airport triggered panic and prompted a massive security operation on Sunday. The email claimed that explosives had been planted inside the airport, specifically hidden in a backpack. The threatening message was sent from the email addresses roadkill@ and kyokill@ raising serious concerns among the authorities. Following the alert, security at the airport was immediately tightened. Thorough searches were conducted across the terminal and surrounding areas. After extensive checks, no explosives were found, and airport operations resumed under enhanced security protocols to ensure passenger safety. A case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by the airport's Chief Security Officer, Sukriti Nigam. The police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the email and identify the sender. Efforts are underway to determine whether the threat was a hoax or part of a larger malicious intent. In another case, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 received a bomb threat early on Thursday morning, prompting a swift emergency response. However, later it was confirmed to be a hoax, officials said. A crew member discovered a paper with a bomb threat on a flight at Delhi's Terminal 3 at 4:42 AM. After a search, the Delhi Fire Service declared it a hoax. First Published: June 30, 2025, 08:50 IST
News18
6 days ago
- News18
Delhi Airport Bomb Threat: Note On Tissue Paper Sparks Emergency, Later Declared Hoax
Last Updated: A message found on Vistara flight UK-2954 claimed that a bomb had been planted on flight UK-2948, located at Terminal-3 of Delhi Airport Panic gripped Terminal-3 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early Thursday morning after a chilling bomb threat note was discovered inside a flight, triggering a full-scale emergency response from security agencies. The threat, scribbled on a piece of tissue paper, warned of an explosive device aboard a separate aircraft, setting off alarms across the country's busiest airport. According to officials, the scare began at 4:42 AM when a flight crew member aboard Vistara flight UK-2954, which had just landed from Mumbai, found the note during post-landing checks. The message claimed that a bomb had been planted on flight UK-2948, located at Terminal-3 of IGI Airport. The crew immediately alerted authorities, prompting swift action by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Fire Service, and other emergency units. Within minutes, the terminal was placed under heightened alert as security personnel cordoned off the area and initiated a coordinated search operation. Sniffer dogs, bomb detection squads, and fire safety officers swept through the premises, while passengers were held in controlled zones for safety. Though operations continued, the mood was tense throughout the hour-long drill. By around 6 AM, the Delhi Fire Service confirmed that no explosives were found and labeled the threat a 'hoax bomb threat". Flights were not significantly disrupted, and normalcy returned shortly afterward. However, the authorities are treating the incident with utmost seriousness. This kind of false alarm is no trivial matter. It diverts crucial security resources and creates unnecessary panic. We are investigating the origin of the message and will ensure strict legal action against whoever is responsible, said a senior CISF officer. Officials have launched a detailed enquiry into how the threatening note ended up on board and whether it was planted mid-air or earlier during ground operations. CCTV footage, baggage checks, and passenger interviews are reportedly underway to trace the source. The IGI Airport, recognised among Asia's top aviation hubs for its high passenger volume and international facilities, maintains tight security protocols year-round. However, this incident has once again exposed how even a single note can upend routine and trigger a serious security scare. First Published: June 27, 2025, 15:10 IST
Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
Delhi airport's Terminal 3 receives hoax bomb threat, triggers emergency response
According to officials, a bomb threat at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 on Thursday morning led a quick emergency response, which was later confirmed to be a hoax. A crew member found a paper with a bomb threat on a flight at Terminal 3 at 4:42 AM. The Delhi Fire Service called it a hoax after a search, ANI reported. A search operation subsequently took place. Further investigation continues to trace the source. On June 19, the Kempegowda International Airport was put on heightened security protocols after a hoax bomb threat was received by the airport security force, PTI reported citing sources. It added the email on Wednesday night in the name of a terrorist, informed of two bombs being planted, one as part of "Plan A" and a backup under "Plan B" in case the first one failed. It further claimed that an explosive device had been put inside a pipeline in the airport toilet. Security agencies held a comprehensive inspection of the premises. After comprehensive checks, officials confirmed that no explosives were discovered and declared the threat a hoax. A case has been filed against the sender of the email IDs used to send the threat, and a formal probe continues. An Air India flight from Phuket, which was enroute to New Delhi received an onboard bomb threat on Friday and did an emergency landing back on the Thai island, according to airport authorities, Reuters reported. They stated all 156 passengers on flight AI 379 were escorted safely from the plane and no suspicious devices were discovered and there was no hinderance to airport operations. Phuket Airport general manager Monchai Tanode in a press conference said the incident occurred following a message with a bomb threat, which was found in one of the plane's lavatories after takeoff. "Police took suspects for questioning but could not clearly say who wrote the note," he stated.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- India Gazette
Hoax bomb threat triggers alert at Delhi Airport's Terminal 3
ANI 27 Jun 2025, 10:36 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): A bomb threat at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 early Thursday morning prompted a swift emergency response, but was later confirmed to be a hoax, officials said. A crew member discovered a paper with a bomb threat on a flight at Delhi's Terminal 3 at 4:42 AM. After a search, the Delhi Fire Service declared it a hoax. According to the Delhi Fire Service, a call was received at 4:42 AM, and a search operation was subsequently conducted. Further investigation is underway to trace the source. (ANI)
