Father-son duo among missing in Srinagar boat tragedy

Srinagar, April 16: A sombre atmosphere prevails along the banks of river Jhelum in the Gandbal area of Srinagar where a boat capsized today morning, leaving six people dead and at least three others, including a father-son duo missing.

Along the riverbanks, a crowd anxiously awaits updates on their missing loved ones, with some women raising their hands in prayer, beseeching for divine intervention in the rescue efforts.

Hope mingles with despair as river police and teams of SDRF vigilantly scan the waters, yearning for any sign of the still-missing persons, who include a father-son duo and a seven-year-old child. Each cry or commotion sends ripples of anticipation through the crowd, only to be met with disappointment as false alarms dissipate.

The bodies of six persons have been fished out so far and five of them laid to rest amid sobs and cries. Three rescued persons are being treated at SMHS hospital in Srinagar, as per officials.

But for now, there is no exact figure of those missing in the tragedy which struck today morning at around 7:45 am when a boat ferrying at least 15 persons including school children capsized in the river.

Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, a mason by profession, was accompanying his kid to the school when the tragedy happened. One of his relatives, who identified himself as Mushtaq Ahmad, said the duo would cross the river daily.

For Masarat Waseem, being alive is worse than death. As she wails, she is being joined by her relatives in the lawn of their house.

Masarat was taking her 7-year-old son, Farhan to school and were on board too, when the boat crashed into one of the pillars of an under-construction bridge, locals said.

While Masarat was rescued, Farhan remains missing under the depths of ferociously flowing Jhelum.

As per officials there are around eight rescue boats of police, marcos, army, and SDRF which are conducting the operation. But after six-hours, there’s no trace of those missing. Except for school bags that were found around 5-kms downstream near Chattabal locality.

Onlookers along the riverbanks clamor for officials to extend the search downstream, citing concerns that the swift current may have carried the missing individuals farther away.