Tragedy strikes as boat capsizes in northern India: 6 feared lost, 5 rescued, 3 missing
by Komal KashyapA devastating boat accident has claimed the lives of six individuals, including five minors, while five others have been rescued and three remain missing after a boat capsized in northern India’s Jammu and Kashmir.
The incident took place in the river Jhelum near Gandabal at the Batwara area of Srinagar on April 16.
Visuals showed after the boat capsized, there was a large crowd gathered at the scene where the rescue team was present. The rescue team bravely entered the water, risking their lives, in order to search for the missing children.
In a devastating incident that shook the Batwara area of Srinagar, a boat carrying local minors and children capsized early Tuesday morning in the river Jhelum near Gandabal. The calamity resulted in the loss of lives, with four individuals confirmed dead and three others undergoing treatment at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.
Eyewitnesses from the Batwara-Gandabal vicinity recounted the shock and trauma that engulfed the area as news of the boat capsizing emerged.
Initial reports indicated that six individuals, including five minor students, tragically lost their lives in the incident. Five students were fortunately rescued by prompt responders, while three individuals remain missing, prompting a massive search and rescue operation by SDRF, NDRF, local police, and volunteers.
The boat, ferrying minors to a local school, met its tragic fate, leading to the loss of young lives. Immediate efforts by rescue teams saw 11 individuals retrieved from the water, but sadly, six were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, while five others are currently receiving medical attention.
The gravity of the situation prompted the intervention of top officials, with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, IGP Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, and SSP Srinagar overseeing rescue operations firsthand at Gandbal Batwara.
Expressing profound sorrow over the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. In a tweet, he stated, “I am deeply grieved by the loss of lives due to a boat accident in Srinagar. My thoughts are with the bereaved families & I pray to the Almighty to give them strength to withstand this immense loss.”
Furthermore, he assured that relief and rescue efforts were underway, with the administration extending all possible assistance to affected families and ensuring adequate medical support for the injured. Marcos teams have been alerted, and continuous monitoring of the situation is underway to provide necessary guidance and support on the ground.