SRINAGAR: A tragic incident unfolded in Illegally Indian Occupied Kashmir on Tuesday when a boat ferrying passengers across a swollen river capsized, resulting in four deaths and leaving at least 19 individuals missing, according to officials.
Rescue operations involving rubber boats and marine commandos were launched swiftly, with rescuers striving to locate survivors amidst the challenging conditions. Hundreds of anxious and grieving family members gathered at the riverbanks following the devastating accident.
Among the missing were several children who were en route to school when the boat overturned in the Jhelum river within the city of Srinagar.
“We have four fatalities from the tragedy,” stated Muzaffar Zargar, superintendent of the city’s main hospital, during a media briefing. He further mentioned that three others were undergoing treatment.
An anonymous top official in Kashmir revealed that at least 26 people were on board the boat when it capsized. The river’s swelling was attributed to days of incessant rain across the Himalayan Kashmir valley.
The boat, which lacked a motor, was propelled between riverbanks by crew members using a rope fixed at both ends. Witnesses recounted that the rope snapped due to the force of the fast-flowing water, causing the boat to collide with a pillar of a nearby partially built footbridge.
Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives, Kashmir’s top political official, Manoj Sinha, conveyed condolences via a social media post, extending support to the bereaved families and affirming that all possible assistance was being provided.
The Jhelum river is a common route for office workers and schoolchildren in the morning to avoid road traffic. Although accidents are prevalent on the perilous roads of the mountainous region, disasters involving passenger boats are rare occurrences.
The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and vigilance, particularly during periods of adverse weather conditions and heightened river currents.
