By: Express News ServiceNew Delhi | October 5, 2025 05:40 AM IST 2 min readPolice identified the deceased as biker Rohit Pal and the man who drowned as Kuldeep Nainwal (47), a local BJP leader residing at Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi (Representative image)It was early Saturday when an 18-year-old youth riding a bike collided with a fire tender that was en route to rescue a man drowning in the Yamuna river near Sonia Vihar. While the youth died, the man who was to be rescued also drowned. His body was recovered from the river around 2.30 pm.Police identified the deceased as biker Rohit Pal and the man who drowned as Kuldeep Nainwal (47), a local BJP leader residing at Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi.Police said that around 7 am, Nainwal slipped and fell into the Yamuna river at Sonia Vihar Pushta where he had gone to feed the fish. “After feeding the fish, he attempted to wash his hands in the river but slipped and fell into the water… Bystanders made a PCR call and also alerted the Delhi Fire Service (DFS),” an officer said.The DFS dispatched a fire engine to the location. However, while en route, the fire tender collided with Pal’s bike near Chauhan Patti on Pusta Road in Sonia Vihar, police said. Pal was immediately taken to JPC Hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.The driver of the fire engine has been held, police said. “During investigation, it was revealed that while the fire tender was heading to the drowning site near Chauhan Patti, the driver noticed a speeding motorcyclist approaching from the opposite direction. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver steered the vehicle to the left, causing it to hit the Pushta wall. Despite the maneuver, the accident could not be averted,” a senior officer said.Meanwhile, another fire tender was dispatched to Chauhan Patti, and a rescue operation was carried out to locate Nainwal. However, his body was recovered from the river around 2:30 pm, police said.Nainwal, an electricity supply contractor in Northeast Delhi, is survived by his wife, mother, and daughter. Police said they are investigating the circumstances under which he slipped into the water and drowned.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:delhi fire servicesDelhi Police