IIT-R student’s body fished out of Ganga canal after 6 days | Dehradun News – The Times of India
Roorkee, Uttarakhand – The body of Ashish Shukla, a 30-year-old student from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, was recovered from the Ganga canal after a six-day search. Shukla, a second-year MBA student, had gone missing after he fell into the canal at Valmiki Ghat on February 11, 2026.
Incident Details
According to police reports, Ashish Shukla, a resident of Gokulnagar in Varanasi district, was at Valmiki Ghat with friends when the tragic incident occurred. On the evening of February 11, around 7 PM, he lost his balance while attempting to get up from the steps of the ghat and fell into the deep canal.
His friends immediately attempted to rescue him by tying their clothes together to form a makeshift rope. Unfortunately, Shukla was unable to grab onto it and was swept away by the fast-flowing water.
Search Operations
Following the incident, a search operation was initiated by the Jal Police and local divers on the same night. However, their efforts were unsuccessful. The next day, the authorities regulated the canal water flow from Haridwar to facilitate the search efforts.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and personnel from the Army’s Bengal Engineer Group (BEG) joined the search operations, but despite their best efforts, Shukla could not be located.
Involvement of National Disaster Response Force
After five days of unsuccessful search attempts, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in to assist. A massive operation was launched on February 16, 2026, involving a joint team of 100 personnel. They conducted a comprehensive search over a 17-kilometer stretch of the canal using sonar equipment and underwater drones.
The search resumed on the morning of February 17, and officials were finally able to spot Shukla’s body near the Mohammadpur Jhal area of Manglaur, approximately 17 kilometers downstream from where he fell in.
Post-Mortem and Family Notification
Following the recovery of the body, a post-mortem examination was conducted. The local police, led by SP (Rural) SC Suyal, confirmed that the body was handed over to Shukla’s family after the necessary formalities were completed.
The tragic incident has left the local community and the IIT-Roorkee campus in mourning. Friends and classmates of Shukla expressed their grief and condolences to his family during this difficult time.
Community Response
The incident has raised concerns about safety measures at popular gathering spots like Valmiki Ghat. Local authorities are being urged to implement better safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Many students at IIT-Roorkee have called for increased awareness and education regarding water safety, especially in areas where fast-moving water bodies are present. The loss of a young life has sparked discussions on the importance of vigilance and safety in recreational areas.
Conclusion
The recovery of Ashish Shukla’s body brings a tragic end to a week of uncertainty and hope. His family, friends, and the entire IIT-Roorkee community are left to mourn the loss of a promising student whose life was cut short too soon.
Note: This article is based on information available as of February 2026 and reflects the events surrounding the tragic incident involving IIT-Roorkee student Ashish Shukla.
