Former Indian Kabaddi captain and Arjuna Awardee Deepak Hooda was swept away by the strong currents of the River Ganga in Haridwar on Wednesday. The incident occurred during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra.
Hooda, who accidentally fell into the river, was dramatically rescued by the 40th Battalion of the Uttarakhand Police. A viral video posted by the police on X shows officers bravely leaping into the water from a boat to save him. Despite the strong current dragging the boat, the team successfully pulled Hooda to safety and brought him ashore.
The Kabaddi star expressed deep gratitude towards the police for saving his life.
Notably, Hooda, who is married to international boxer Saweety Boora, was earlier named in a dowry harassment case filed by his wife in February this year.
Drowning cases have risen sharply during the Kanwar Yatra season. The SDRF has reported multiple rescues this month, including six Kanwariyas at Kangra Ghat. In separate past incidents, a 19-year-old IAF personnel’s son and a 16-year-old boy lost their lives to Ganga’s dangerous waters.
