Vrindavan Boat Tragedy: A River, A Reel And Second Chance

Ludhiana: Ludhiana: Providence smiled upon Rajinder Kaur Banga, a 54-year-old resident of Dugri, Phase 2, when her Instagram algorithm threw up a reel on surviving in the water. That reel became a lifesaver for her in Vrindavan. As the Yamuna waters rose around her, she recalled the reel's tips on surviving in water — guidance she says helped her stay afloat until help arrived.Rajinder was also the first among the survivors to inform her family. After being rescued, she borrowed a mobile phone and called her son in Ludhiana, which in turn helped alert the families of other victims. While she is grateful to have survived, she remains shaken by the loss of her neighbours and close friends — Anju Gulati, Meenu Bansal, and two of their relatives. The group had shared a long, close bond, travelling together and supporting each other through daily life, forming what Rajinder described as an extended family. Recalling the incident, she said the group of nearly 30 devotees boarded a boat at Keshi Ghat to cross the Yamuna. They were singing bhajans when the boatman shifted five passengers to another boat. "We were so engrossed that we did not question the boatman," she said. Moments later, the group noticed a section of the pontoon bridge drifting towards their boat. The boatman attempted to steer away, but the wind pushed the pontoon closer, leading to a collision and capsizing. "As we struggled to stay afloat, I recalled an Instagram reel in which tips to escape from drowning were shared. I followed those tips — did not open my mouth, kept my arms straight and moved my legs," she said. Her family said it took her nearly two days to overcome the shock and speak fully about the ordeal. "Anju and Meenu aunty were like our extended family members. They would travel to religious places together. Mom is unable to process this," her daughter-in-law Megha said.
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