What happened here
Nine people died across three separate Gujarat water incidents: three after a fishing boat capsized in the Tapi River near Surat, four while bathing at a check dam in Amreli, and two during an idol-immersion emergency in Morbi where firefighters rescued two others.
Three incidents, not one accident
Between 24 and 25 September 2026, nine people died in three separate water incidents across Gujarat. They occurred in different districts and under different circumstances. This review groups them only to examine the repeated safety pattern; it does not imply that the events shared one cause or investigation.
Surat: a small boat capsized in the Tapi
Three men from Kholvad village died after a small fishing boat capsized in the Tapi River near Dhoran Pardi during an idol-immersion trip. Police identified them as Shardul Mer, 23, Raju Mer, 23, and Dana Shiyaliya, 26. Reporting said an artificial immersion pond had been provided near their homes, but the group travelled about eight kilometres to the river.
Amreli: four deaths at a check dam
Four men died while bathing at the Mota Devaliya check dam in Babra taluka. They were identified as Kanubhai Shingala, Sachinbhai Shingala, Bhala Jethva and Kevin Jethva. Local reporting said clothes left on the bank alerted people to the emergency. The reviewed record does not establish the exact depth, swimming ability of those involved or whether a rescue station was present.
Morbi: two rescued, two died
Four men entered the Machchhu River near Juna Sadulka for idol immersion on the evening of 24 September. Firefighters rescued Akash Maliya and Akash Gajanand. Vilas Gaikwad and Sohan Kuldiya remained missing during the initial search; later reporting confirmed that both bodies were recovered, one around midnight and the other on 25 September afternoon.
What the comparison shows
The Morbi response demonstrates that rescue is possible when trained teams reach people in time, but it must not be treated as proof that open-water entry is safe. Across the three events, the recurring exposure was unsupervised or uncontrolled entry into open water. A boat, a check dam and a river each demand different controls, but all require an assessment of depth, current, edges, flotation, supervision and rescue capability.
Safer immersion and recreation
Organisers should use designated artificial ponds or formally assessed ghats wherever provided. Access to rivers, reservoirs and check dams should be controlled, particularly after rain or when water levels are high. Boats require suitable capacity, condition, trained operation and a correctly fitted life jacket for every occupant. Bathing should be prohibited where depth changes abruptly, spillways create currents or rescue cover is absent.
How a bystander should respond
Call 112, keep pointing toward the person, and use a reach-or-throw rescue from land. Do not enter deep or moving water unless trained, equipped and supported. If a boat overturns, stay with the floating craft when safe, conserve energy and use flotation rather than attempting a long unsupported swim.
- Four people got into difficulty in the Machchhu River near Juna Sadulka, Morbi
- Morbi firefighters rescued two people and continued searching for two others
- The first missing Morbi victim was recovered
- Three people died after a small fishing boat capsized in the Tapi River near Dhoran Pardi, Surat
- Four people died while bathing at the Mota Devaliya check dam in Amreli district
- The second missing Morbi victim was recovered, completing the reported toll of two deaths and two rescues there
- Consolidated reporting placed the combined toll across the three separate incidents at nine
Why consequences escalated
- The nine deaths arose from three separate events and must not be described as one accident.
- Open-water entry occurred despite a designated artificial immersion facility reportedly being available in the Surat case.
- A small fishing boat was used for the Surat river journey; the reviewed report does not establish capacity, condition or life-jacket use.
- The Amreli deaths occurred during bathing at a check dam, where abrupt depth and hydraulic conditions can be difficult to judge.
- In Morbi, trained firefighters rescued two of four people, while two recoveries required a prolonged search.
- The shared prevention theme is controlled access, flotation, supervision and immediate shore-based rescue capability.
Failures and risk multipliers
- Treating a river, reservoir or check dam as equivalent to a supervised swimming area.
- Bypassing a designated immersion facility for an uncontrolled open-water location.
- Using a small boat without confirmed capacity, condition and a life jacket for every occupant.
- Entering water near a check dam without verified depth, current and safe exit conditions.
- Relying on spontaneous bystander rescue rather than trained, equipped response.
- Combining early missing-person reports with later confirmed deaths without updating the record.
People closest to the evidence
“Four youths entered the Machchhu River and two were rescued while two remained missing during the initial operation”
TV9 Gujarati · Early Morbi search-stage video; later reporting confirmed both missing men died · Source ↗
Actions that reduce risk
- Use only designated and assessed immersion locations.
- Physically restrict access to unsafe river, dam and check-dam edges during public events.
- Require a correctly fitted life jacket for every occupant of a small boat.
- Set and enforce boat capacity and weather/current limits.
- Place trained rescue personnel, throw lines, reach poles, flotation and lighting at approved sites.
- Post visible depth, current and no-bathing warnings where hazards cannot be eliminated.
- Record and review each rescue and drowning so temporary festival controls improve before the next event.
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