Tragic Boat Capsize in Jhelum River, Srinagar: 4 Deaths, Including School Students, among 11 on Board; 7 Rescued

In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a boat overturned in the Jhelum River in Srinagar, Kashmir. The boat was carrying 11 people, including school children. Regrettably, four individuals lost their lives in the accident, while seven were rescued.

Boat commuting across the river is a routine affair for locals, but recent heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours has led to a rise in the water level of the Jhelum. This surge in water levels is believed to have caused the capsizing of the boat.

Following the mishap, local residents immediately sprung into action, initiating rescue efforts. Shortly thereafter, teams from the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) also joined the rescue operation.

Two Women Among the Deceased, Three Still Under Care

Out of the unfortunate victims, two are women, while the remaining three from the rescued group are currently receiving medical attention. 

Among those who lost their lives are Shabir Ahmad (26) and Gulzar Ahmad (41), along with two women aged 32 and 18. The tragic incident has drawn expressions of sorrow from political figures like Omar Abdullah of the National Conference.

Daily Crossings Across the Jhelum River by Locals

Every day, locals rely on boats to cross the Jhelum River, facilitated by the owners of these local boats. Today, however, the boat that capsized carried school children, their parents, and laborers. 

These individuals, who typically use these boats daily to traverse the Jhelum, were among those on board when the tragic incident occurred.