A 46-year-old scrap collector remained untraced on Wednesday evening, a full 24 hours after he was swept away in a seasonal drain at Rajiv Colony in Sector 17, Panchkula. The man, identified as Rajesh Kumar, was caught in a sudden current that followed Tuesday evening's flashflood.
Search operation continues for missing man in Panchkula drain
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), supported by divers, have been working to locate Rajesh. The search operation had been suspended overnight but resumed and continued through the day.
According to The Tribune, Rajesh was standing near the drain with his friend, Randhir Kumar, when incessant rain triggered a sudden current in the drain and its vicinity. Rajesh slipped into the drain and was swept away. Randhir attempted to rescue him but could not.
Who was Rajesh Kumar — victim's family details
Rajesh was a native of Bhiwani in Haryana who had settled in Panchkula in 1984. He leaves behind his wife and seven children — six daughters and a five-year-old son.
The incident highlights the dangers posed by seasonal drains during heavy rainfall. The flashflood that struck Tuesday evening created dangerous conditions in the area, catching residents off guard.
"Rajesh slipped into the drain and was swept away. Randhir attempted to re..." — The Tribune
Rescue efforts and ongoing search for Rajesh Kumar
The continued presence of NDRF and SDRF teams, along with divers, shows the seriousness of the search effort. Rescue workers are combing the drain and surrounding areas for any sign of the missing man.
The delay in finding Rajesh raises concerns about the safety of such drains during extreme weather events. The seasonal drain, which normally carries limited water, became a deadly channel when the flashflood hit.
Our Take: Drain safety needs urgent attention
This tragedy is a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary situations can turn deadly during extreme weather. A man standing near a drain with his friend one moment, swept away the next — this is not just bad luck, it is a failure of urban infrastructure planning.
Seasonal drains in cities like Panchkula are part of daily life. People live, work, and move around them constantly. When heavy rain turns these drains into deadly currents without warning, it puts every resident at risk.
The fact that Rajesh's family — a wife and seven children — now faces life without him is the human cost of this neglect. Our thoughts are with them, but thoughts are not enough. Civic authorities must examine why this drain became so dangerous and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies.
For now, the immediate priority is finding Rajesh and bringing closure to his family. But the larger question of drain safety in Panchkula and similar cities cannot be ignored any longer.
