Gandbal boat capsize | Search operation for 3 missing persons continues on 5th day

Srinagar, Apr 20: Search operation for three missing persons continued for the fifth consecutive day in river Jhelum at Gandbal area here on Saturday

The search operation was being monitored by the Superintendent of Police, East Srinagar Mubashir Bukhari.

“Exhaustive efforts are being carried out by the rescue teams and there has been no success in locating the missing individuals thus far,” a senior police officer told Greater Kashmir. “Now additional customised boat has been added to fleet of boats engaged in rescue operation.”

The incident had occurred four days ago when a boat carrying several passengers capsized in the turbulent waters of the river Jhelum, leading to a massive search and rescue operation.

"We are fully committed to continuing our search and rescue operations until we locate the missing individuals. Our teams are working tirelessly, braving adverse weather conditions, to find them," IGP Kashmir VK Birdi had said on Friday visiting the spot.

The IGP had also urged the local community to extend their full cooperation to the rescue teams and to provide any information that may assist in locating the missing individuals.

The boat, carrying 19 passengers and heading east from Gandabal towards Batwara in Srinagar, capsized around 8 am after hitting an iron pole in the middle of the river. All the children on board were students of Kendriya Vidyalaya at Sonwar, located across the river.

Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Marcos, have been tirelessly searching the turbid waters of the Jhelum River, spanning 4-5 km downstream from Gandbal to Raj Bagh. Divers have been deployed to search underwater for any signs of the missing persons.

Officials said that the rescue operation continued throughout the night and was resumed in the morning. Despite efforts, the search teams have yet to find any trace of the missing individuals.

The missing persons have been identified as Farhan Waseem Parray, 7, Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, 40, and his son Haziq Showkat, 9. Their families, along with hundreds of concerned individuals, have been waiting anxiously along the banks of the Jhelum River for any news.

Officials said that the search teams are focusing on specific areas where there is a higher probability of finding the bodies, considering the fast-flowing water currents. They are also alerting all police stations along the river to be on the lookout for any floating bodies.