Bodies of Two Army Personnel Missing in Yamunanagar Boat Accident Found, Confirmation Awaited

September 3, 2026

Yamunanagar: The bodies of two Army personnel who went missing after a boat accident near Hathinikund Barrage in Haryana’s Yamunanagar are reportedly believed to have been recovered, though the Army is yet to officially confirm their identities.

One body was found in Uttar Pradesh, around 15 km from the barrage, while the second was recovered nearly 200 km away in the Hansi Branch Canal near Amrehi village in Jind. Both bodies were found wearing diving suits.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening when five personnel of the 1 Para Special Forces jumped from a Chinook helicopter onto a motorboat stationed in the Yamuna during a practice exercise.

The boat reportedly failed to start after the soldiers landed on it and suddenly began sinking. All five personnel jumped into the river wearing diving kits and life jackets.

Three soldiers managed to swim out through the Western Yamuna Canal gate, while Maharashtra resident Aryan Patil and Ajay from Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir went missing.

Following the incident, the Army, NDRF, SDRF, police and local administration launched a large-scale search operation in the Yamunanagar area and nearby canals.

On Wednesday night, a body wearing a diving suit was recovered from Bartha Korsi village in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, around 15 km from the barrage. The body was reportedly that of Ajay, though the Army has not officially confirmed the identity.

On Thursday, another body wearing a diving suit was recovered from the Hansi Branch Canal near Amrehi village in Jind. The canal originates from the Munak Head of the Western Yamuna Canal.

The second body is reportedly that of Aryan Patil. However, the Army has not yet officially confirmed the identity.

The search operation continued for three days, with Army teams conducting searches near Hathinikund Barrage as well as areas downstream, while authorities monitored canals where the bodies could have been carried by the flowing water.