New Delhi | Four minors are feared drowned after they were swept away by the strong current of the Yamuna river while bathing near Hiranki village in outernorth Delhi's Alipur area, with multiple rescue agencies continuing an intensive search operation for the second consecutive day on Monday, officials said.

Police said a PCR call regarding the incident was received at around 7.30 pm on Sunday.

According to the preliminary inquiry, five minors had gone to the Yamuna Ghat near Hiranki village on Sunday evening.

While they were at the riverbank, four of them entered the water and were swept away by the strong current. The fifth boy managed to escape and alerted nearby people, following which the police and rescue teams were informed.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Delhi Fire Services and Delhi Police have been carrying out a search operation since Sunday evening.

The operation extended into Monday, but no bodies had been recovered till the filing of this report.

Police said the search operation was being conducted with boats and trained rescue personnel amid a strong river current.

Lucky, who had accompanied the group, told PTI that the five boys had reached the river around 5 pm.

"The road leading to the ghat was muddy. We had gone there together and initially were only washing our hands and feet. Then Saurav decided to take a bath, and Rahul, Amandeep and Anshu followed him," he said.

Lucky said he warned his friends against entering the river after noticing the current.

"I told them not to go because the current was very strong. They were holding each other's hands while bathing. Suddenly, the current pulled them away. I started shouting for help," he said.

He said three locals rushed to the spot after hearing his cries and helped contact his family members, who later informed the police and the families of the missing boys.

As rescue teams continued to scan the river on Monday, anxious family members remained gathered on the riverbank, refusing to leave despite the passing hours. Every movement of the rescue boats drew their attention, only to be followed by silence as the teams returned without finding the missing boys.

The clothes and slippers the teenagers had left on the rocks before entering the river remained untouched, watched over by relatives who clung to hope that the search would bring some news.

Shyam Bihari Shah, father of one of the missing boys, Anshu, said the family received a phone call about the incident at around 6 pm on Sunday.

"When we reached, there were already many people standing here. Since then, we have been waiting near the river. We are praying that our child is found," he said.

Anshu is a class 10 student, his father said.

Nearby, relatives of the other missing boys, including Saurav's mother and his sister Khushi, broke down repeatedly as rescue personnel continued their efforts in the river.

Police said the search operation would continue until all the missing boys were traced