2024 Gandbal Tragedy: Marine Commandos launch search to retrieve body of missing man in Jhelum
Srinagar, Jan 12: Marine Commandos on Monday launched an intensive search operation in the Jhelum river at the Gandbal area in Srinagar following the recovery of suspected human remains along the riverbank a day earlier— raising hopes of closure in a tragedy that shook the area nearly two years ago.
Officials said a team of Marine Commandos (MARCOS) was deployed at the Soiteng-Gandbal stretch of the river after local residents demanded the involvement of specialised underwater search units. The commandos began a coordinated search soon after arriving at the spot and were combing the riverbed and surrounding areas at the time of filing this report.
The renewed operation follows the discovery of suspected human remains by locals collecting sand along the Jhelum riverbank this month. The recovery rekindled hopes that the remains could of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, a 40-year-old mason who went missing in the April 2024 boat capsize incident and was never traced despite extensive rescue efforts.
Residents said they had been urging authorities to deploy marine commandos since the recovery, citing the depth, strong currents, and poor visibility in the river, which they said made it difficult for conventional teams to conduct a thorough search. “Only trained divers with specialised equipment can operate effectively in this stretch of the river,” locals said, adding that the operation was crucial for bringing long-awaited closure to the affected family.
Officials said the search is being conducted as per standard operating procedures and that any material recovered will be sent for forensic examination to establish identity.
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of April 16, 2024, in the Gandbal area near Batwara in Srinagar. A locally used ferry boat, known as a khoutch, was ferrying around 15 people across the Jhelum River, including schoolchildren and their parents. The boat was reportedly overloaded and guided by a rope stretched across the river.
According to officials, the rope snapped midway, causing the boat to drift uncontrollably in the strong current before crashing into an unfinished bridge pier. The impact split the boat in two, throwing passengers into the river.
Eight people, including children, lost their lives in the accident, while several others were rescued by locals and emergency responders. Showkat Ahmad Sheikh remained untraceable despite large-scale rescue operations involving the police, SDRF, NDRF, and local volunteers.
The tragedy triggered widespread outrage and highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure in the area. Following the incident, construction of the long-pending bridge at Gandbal was expedited and eventually completed, providing permanent connectivity to residents who had long relied on unsafe river crossings.
Nearly two years later, the discovery of suspected human remains has revived hopes that the mystery surrounding the missing victim may finally be resolved. Authorities said forensic tests will determine whether the remains belong to Sheikh, a development that could bring a measure of closure to his family and the local community still haunted by the tragedy.
