Teenager drowns in abandoned sand ditch in Banihal, locals blame sand mafia

Banihal, July 29: A 17-year-old boy tragically drowned on Monday in the Rattan Bass area of Banihal after falling into a deep, water filled ditch allegedly created by illegal sand extraction along Nallah Bishlari.

The deceased has been identified as Asgar Ali Gujjar, son of Mohammad Ashraf Binth, a resident of Rattan Bass. According to locals, Asgar was bathing in the stream with another boy when he accidentally slipped into the ditch, which had formed due to unregulated sand mining operations.

Eyewitnesses and local residents blamed the "sand mafia" for the tragedy, accusing them of extracting sand from the Bishlari stream and leaving behind hazardous pits without any safety measures. They claim the ditch was never filled or marked, posing a serious risk to public safety especially to children and youth who frequent visit the area.

“This is not the first time such a pit has caused danger. The authorities must act before more lives are lost,” said a local resident, demanding immediate action against those responsible.

Following the incident, police and rescue teams, along with volunteers from the NGO Banihal volunteers, reached the site and managed to recover the body.

The community members urged the administration to crack down on illegal sand mining and ensure that all such abandoned sites are properly filled and secured to prevent further tragedies.