Bodies of Two Friends Recovered Week After Tragic Drowning in BBMB Canal
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Mandi, Aug 1, 2025:
A week after they went missing in the BBMB canal near Baggi in Mandi district, the bodies of Ashish Gautam (36) and Sudhir Sharma were recovered on Friday morning from the control gate of Sundernagar reservoir. The police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for postmortem
The tragic incident occurred on the night of July 25, when the two, along with their friend Hardeep Singh, had visited the canal-side in the Baggi area. What began as light-hearted banter turned into a fatal accident. Sudhir reportedly joked about jumping into the canal, and while being cautioned by his friends, he slipped on the muddy bank and fell into the fast-flowing water.
In a heroic attempt to save his friend, Ashish Gautam jumped in after him without hesitation. Unfortunately, the strong current overwhelmed both men, and they were swept away within seconds. Hardeep Singh screamed for help, but with no one around to hear him, he alerted the Dhanotu police, who immediately launched a search operation. However, darkness and the fierce flow of the canal delayed recovery efforts.
DSP Bharat Bhushan confirmed that the bodies were found after nearly a week of extensive search. The postmortem was conducted at Sundernagar Civil Hospital, bringing closure to a heartbreaking incident that has shocked the local community.
