SRINAGAR BOAT TRAGEDY | Body of another boy retrieved from Jhelum, toll 8

Srinagar, Apr 27:  Twelve days after a tragic boat capsizing incident in the River Jhelum in Srinagar, the toll has risen to eight with the recovery of another lifeless body, that of Farhan Waseem Parry, a minor boy.

The body was found at Noorbagh in Srinagar, and on the previous day, the body of Haziq Showkat was retrieved near the old Zero Bridge.

Both bodies were taken to SMHS Hospital for necessary formalities, while hundreds gathered in Gandbal to mourn and offer condolences to the bereaved families.

The tragic incident, which occurred on April 16, claimed the lives of six persons, including a mother and her two sons, as a boat carrying students to school capsized at Gandbal.

Locals and survivors have said that the lack of a nearby bridge forces them to undertake risky boat journeys across the river.

They said that a footbridge near the accident site had been under construction for nearly a decade.

Rescue teams, including those from the J&K Police, SDRF, NDRF, and Marcos are continuing the search from Gandbal to Raj Bagh in Srinagar.

Local volunteers are also assisting in the search operation.

The tragedy has deeply affected Kashmir, with prayers for the victims and their families being offered in Masjids during Friday prayers.

The government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured person.

The search operation is ongoing to locate the remaining missing person.