The search operation to recover the body of a 26-year-old youth who drowned in the Doyang Reservoir on April 11 entered its fourth day on Wednesday, with rescue teams continuing their efforts despite facing significant challenges.
The victim, identified as Yilobemo Kikon of Pangti village, reportedly went missing on the afternoon of April 11 while rowing a boat in the middle of the reservoir between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The incident was witnessed by anglers fishing nearby, although the exact cause of the mishap remains unclear.
A total of 31 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with 17 to 18 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) working in shifts, have been deployed in the ongoing operation. Four divers have been continuously engaged on a rotational basis. On April 15, an underwater drone team joined the operation through the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA). Despite deploying all available resources, the body remains untraced.
Inspector R Aben of the 12th NDRF Regional Response Centre (RRC), Kohima, stated that poor underwater visibility remains one of the primary challenges. He explained that beyond a depth of approximately 40 feet, visibility drops to near zero, making it extremely difficult for divers to locate the body.
He further informed that while the standard operational capacity of divers and equipment is up to around 100 feet, the divers have extended their efforts by going down beyond that during the operation. However, due to zero visibility and difficult underwater conditions, the efforts have not been successful.
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Highlighting additional challenges, Inspector Aben noted that the terrain of the dam is steep and slippery, while pointing out that submerged tree branches and accumulated debris within the reservoir have further complicated the search efforts.
On the logistical front, he stated that all equipment brought to the site has been functional and that there has been full cooperation among all agencies involved in the operation.
Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Vineet Kumar, informed that the search operation has not been called off and will continue for another two to three days by SDRF personnel. He added that if the body is not recovered within this period, necessary legal procedures will be initiated.
Meanwhile, authorities have once again urged the public to avoid entering water bodies without proper safety measures. Officials emphasised that individuals who are unable to swim should refrain from venturing into deep waters and strictly use life jackets to prevent such tragic incidents.
