Tragic end to promising life: Drowned Bandipora youth was recently engaged, leaves family shattered

Bandipora, Aug 16: The 24-year-old youth, Tufail Ahmad Shah, who drowned to death in Papchan Nallah in Bandipora on Friday, was engaged just eighteen days ago, his close family members told Greater Kashmir. "The family was celebrating his Nikkah, held eighteen days ago. We were planning to get him married, soon," Prince Parvaiz, his uncle, said. "The happiness has turned into mourning," he added.

Son of the retired police official, Bashir Ahamd, Shah was recruited as an SPO in the police department and was a lone brother among his two sisters, both married. Suhail Ahamd, another relative from the village, said, Shah was "tall and athletic built and was known in the village for his good character."

Notably, the streams in the Bandipora, like Madhumati and Arin, have witnessed an increased flow following cloud bursts in the upper reaches a day before the incident. Authorities have warned people against venturing out near water bodies and flooded roads, and bridges.

The death came days after an 18-year-old, Nazakat Ali Khatana from Rajouri, drowned in the Madhumati stream on August 10. Khatan decided to cool himself after returning from the Nangabaji shrine in the Malangham area in the district.

In both events, SDRF and locals launched rescue efforts and rushed them to the district hospital a few kilometers away from the incident sites; however, Tufail and Nazakat were both declared dead on arrival.

The back-to-back incidents have created deep anguish among residents who are demanding tougher guidelines against the swimming ban. Suhail said Tufail jumped into the Arin stream near Papchan but didn't come out. "Immediately after, youth nearby joined rescue efforts, following which officials from SDRF arrived, but it was already too late."

"It is a tragedy," they added. Meanwhile, a pall of gloom hangs over the village as mourners make a beeline to Tufail's home to offer condolences to his family.