36 drown across Gujarat during Dhuleti as revellers enter rivers, canals and ponds

While Dhuleti celebrations brought colour and festivity across Gujarat, a series of drowning incidents in rivers, canals and ponds left at least 36 people dead across multiple districts on Thursday and the preceding days.

Most of the victims had entered water bodies to bathe after playing Holi. Several incidents involved groups of friends, while others included children and family members. In some cases, rising water levels in canals or a lack of supervision contributed to the tragedies.

Authorities generally advise people to avoid entering rivers, canals and other public water bodies during Dhuleti, when large numbers of revellers seek to wash off colour after Holi celebrations.

Three youths drown in Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad

Three youths drowned in the Sabarmati river near Nandigram in Nana Chiloda on Thursday afternoon.

According to reports, four friends from Kubernagar and Naroda areas had gone to bathe in the river when the incident occurred. Three of them drowned.

The deceased were identified as Sahil Dilipbhai Kori (21) and Durgeshbhai Thakurdin Kori (21), residents of Santoshi Nagar in Kubernagar, and Sunny Ajaykumar Yadav (28), a resident of Santoshi Nagar in Naroda.

Riverfront East police have registered a case of accidental death and begun further investigation.

Two drown in canal in Kutch after sudden rise in water level

Two people drowned in the Narmada canal near the Shani Dev temple on the Anjar–Adipur road in Kutch after water was suddenly released into the canal, causing the level to rise.

Three friends had reportedly gone to bathe near a siphon point when two of them were swept away by the current. One of the deceased was identified as Bhavyarajsinh Indrasinh Jadeja (9).

In a separate incident nearby, Gopibhai Narayanbhai Vadecha (25) drowned while bathing in the canal with his brother-in-law.

Drowning incidents reported in Morbi, Halvad and Amreli

Multiple incidents were reported from different districts in Saurashtra.

In Halvad, Jaysukh Dilabhai Patel, a resident of Kanbipara, drowned in the Narmada canal on March 4. His body was later retrieved by the fire brigade.

In Morbi, Suresh Gurjar, a resident of Rajasthan, drowned in the Narmada canal near Unchi Mandal. His body was recovered after a search operation.

In Amreli district, Sameer Maheshbhai Solanki (17) from Baharpara drowned in the Shetrunji river near Vithalpur after going there to bathe following Holi celebrations.

Three children drown in pond in Mandal

Three children drowned in Jholasar pond in Sitapur village of Mandal taluka in Ahmedabad rural after going there to bathe following Dhuleti celebrations.

Police reached the spot and rushed the children to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

The deceased were identified as Saurav Ashokbhai Rathod (11), Pathav Maheshbhai Rathod (9) and Kaushik Lalabhai Rathod (9), all residents of Sitapur village.

Ten deaths reported in Surat region

Multiple drowning incidents were reported in Surat city as well as in Bardoli, Mangrol and Tapi districts.

In Bardoli, five friends entered the Mindhola river. One of them, Darshansingh Dilipsinh Solanki, was rescued, but Keshav Sonawane, Bhoomit Dipakbhai Mistry (24), Abhishek Ishwarbhai Chaudhary (21) and Neelsinh Dilipsinh Solanki (21) died.

In Mangrol taluka, three people — Sanjay Dhanjibhai Mangukiya (44), neighbour Chandrabhushan Umashankar Singh (36), and Happy Singh Anilsinh (26) — drowned in the Kim creek after entering the water to bathe.

In Surat city, Jaydeep Vinubhai Viras (20) from Suman Sagar Apartment in Vesu drowned in the Tapi river near Sarthana Nature Park.

In another incident, Naveen Padam Parihar (30), a Nepali national residing in Mota Varachha, drowned in the Tapi river while bathing with friends.

In Tapi district, Piyush Ganeshbhai Vad (18) drowned near the Purna river bank in Kelwan village of Dolvan taluka.

Five drowning incidents reported in Vadodara region

At least five drowning incidents were reported in Vadodara city and district during the two days of Holi and Dhuleti 

Two friends had entered a canal near Lileriya on Sama–Savli Road. One person was rescued, while another remains missing and is being searched for by the fire brigade.

Another youth drowned near Umeta bridge in the Mahisagar river, and his body has yet to be recovered.

In another incident, Anilbhai Patel, a resident of Limda village, drowned in a pond in a quarry area near Kherwadi in Waghodia.

Rajkumar Devkishan Garg (49), originally from Bhilwara in Rajasthan and residing in Karjan, drowned in the Shivwadi canal near the highway.

Four youths, including two brothers, die in Dahod region

Four youths from Juni Kantar village drowned in a pond near Kamalpur Naka after going there to bathe following Dhuleti celebrations.

The deceased were identified as Jayesh Jaswantbhai Bariya (21), Vipul Jaswantbhai Bariya (19), Amit Vinodbhai Bariya (21) and Tushar Rudhanath Bariya (21)

Despite rescue attempts, all four died. The small village later witnessed the funeral procession of all four youths together.

Four deaths reported in Aravalli district

In Navagam village of Malpur taluka, two cousin brothers — Jaimin Damor (11) and Raychand Damor (12) — drowned in a pond.

In another incident in Jalampura village of Dhansura taluka, Ranjit Dabhi (7) and Anand Khat (25) also drowned.

Incidents reported in Mehsana and Kadi

In Mehsana district, four friends had gone to bathe in a canal under the Sujalam Sufalam scheme near Motidao village. Two were rescued, but Jayeshkumar Ajabji Thakor (21) and Vijayji Vinuji drowned.

In another incident, Sherubhai Harchandbhai Saraniya (35) drowned in a minor canal of the Narmada scheme near Thol Road in Kadi while bathing with friends.

District-wise deaths