Two Delhi Youth Lose Their Lives Trying To Save A Pigeon From Drowning!

A young bird-lover's attempt to save a pigeon led to a tragic chain of events that claimed the lives of two men, both drowning in a drain pipe, in northeast Delhi's Wazirabad.

TOI

One of the victims, 19-year-old Anil Sahni, had gone to feed pigeons near a sewage pipe on Monday evening when he noticed a bird stuck in the sludgy water of the drain. While trying to hang from the open manhole to pick up the pigeon, Sahni fell into the pipe and got stuck in the sewage water, eyewitnesses said.

Among those who saw Sahni fall into the drain was Naseeruddin, 35, a diver credited with saving the lives of nearly 100 people around the colony, which is situated next to the Yamuna. Naseer promptly jumped in to rescue Sahni. Neither of them got out of the pipe alive.

"Neither could the two men stand inside the badly stinking drain pipe due to the flow of water, nor could they swim due to the sludge. The toxic gases in the drain made it difficult for them to breathe," said Mohammad Shaqir, an eyewitness.

TOI

Both victims were residents of Sonia Vihar area. Witnesses said it was around 4.30pm when Anil Sahni, went up to a cemented block built around a manhole of the sewerage pipe, to feed the birds. This was part of his daily routine.

"He saw a pigeon stuck inside the pipe. It was totally wet and could not fly out. Fearing that the bird would die if left alone, Sahni bent down to help it. But the pipe was wide and he could not reach the water. While straining to catch the bird, Sahni's grip got loosened and he fell inside," said Shaqir.

Naseeruddin, who was employed at the cremation ground to supply wood, saw the incident and rushed in to help. "We called him Naseer bhaijan. He was a diver and had saved any lives in the area. People know him as a saviour," said Shaqir.

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Locals said the police were immediately called to rescue the two men. But by then the men were dead. Even the bodies could be brought out only after they floated up to the sewer opening, 100 m away from the spot where the two had jumped in. The duo was rushed to a nearby hospital and declared brought dead. Police said the bodies were sent for postmortem and later handed over to the families.

"My son lost his life to save a bird. He didn't think about his mother and his younger siblings before jumping in.

TOI

The officials who kept the sewer open should be jailed," said Shanti Devi, Anil's mother. "The postmortem has ascertained death by drowning and the viscera of the deceased men has been sent for examination to check if toxic gases played a role in causing the deaths," said Ajit Singla, DCP northeast. Delhi Jal Board officials could not be contacted after repetitive attempts.