2 years on, Gandbal boat tragedy reopens as human remains surface along Jhelum

Srinagar, Jan 11: Dark memories of the Gandbal boat tragedy two years ago resurfaced on Sunday after sand extractors working along the banks of the river Jhelum at Batwara claimed to have spotted a shoe along with what appeared to be human foot remains.

The incident triggered panic, prayers, and anguish among locals and the victim’s family. The discovery instantly reopened wounds that had barely begun to heal. On April 16, 2024, a boat capsized in the same stretch of the Jhelum, claiming the lives of eight people. While bodies of victims were retrieved after an extensive operation, one person, Showkat Ahmad, was never found, leaving his family suspended between grief and unanswered questions.

According to witnesses, sand extractors noticed the shoe buried in sand as they were extracting sand near the riverbank.

“Alarmed, they alerted locals and soon contacted the family of the missing man, aware that one body from the tragedy had never been recovered. Within minutes, I sent the picture of the remains to the deceased’s wife, who identified the shoe as his,” a local from the village committee said, adding that experts should be called to find the remaining body.

Locals said the remains appeared to be a human foot still inside the shoe, intensifying speculation that the river may finally be yielding what it had kept hidden for nearly two years. Videos showing people gathering along the riverbank, some offering prayers with raised hands, soon surfaced on social media.

A relative of the missing man, speaking with a heavy voice, said the family had lived in a painful limbo. “We were hoping against hope. Somewhere in our hearts, we believed that maybe the water had carried him elsewhere, that he might still be alive. We could not even perform his last rites. Today, all those emotions came back.”

Residents of Gandbal said the discovery reopened collective trauma and demanded immediate action. “This tragedy never really left us. If these remains belong to him, the family deserves closure. Authorities must restart the search properly,” said another local.

When contacted, officials at the concerned police station said they could not confirm the identity of the remains as yet. “A team has been dispatched to the spot. Nothing is confirmed at this stage. Further details will be shared after verification,” said the official.