Boat overturns at Jhelum River near Srinagar, killing six people

Six people were killed on Tuesday when a boat filled mostly with schoolchildren sank on the Jhelum River outside of the city, according to authorities.

Six individuals were hauled out of the river, whose water level had increased over the previous several days owing to the continuous rains in the Kashmir valley, at approximately eight in the morning in the Gandbal Nowgam region.

It was unclear how many individuals were really aboard the boat.

According to Srinagar deputy commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat, six people have passed away and their remains have been found.

“Unfortunately, six of the people we saved have passed away, and three of them are receiving stable care. The other three are at home,” Bhat informed the media.

“The regrettable event happened between 7:45 and 8 a.m. Although the exact number of passengers on the boat is still unknown, we now know that there were fifteen individuals on board, including seven youngsters,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said that the search and rescue was underway.

When asked whether the government had alerted the public to the rising water levels in the valley’s rivers and streams, Bhat said that on Monday, officials had sent out a notice advising residents living close to the river’s embankments to exercise caution.

“We sent out a warning yesterday. I continued to explore the city till after midnight. Jhelum at Ram Munshibagh, Srinagar, is 18 feet dangerous. We send out a first signal at 10 feet, advising anyone living close to the banks to exercise caution. But, he said, “(It was) flowing below the danger level, and the rain had stopped by around 10 p.m. yesterday.”

Deputy Commissioner “We are looking into it” in answer to an inquiry about whether the boat was overcrowded.

Senior law enforcement and civil administration authorities, such as the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, the Senior Superintendent of Police of Srinagar, the Inspector General of Police of Kashmir, and the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, were present at the Gandbal Batwara site to oversee the rescue efforts.

Many other politicians, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed their sorrow for the deaths caused by the tragedy.

“The deaths caused by a boat tragedy in Srinagar have me inconsolable. My prayers to the Almighty for the fortitude to bear this great loss are with the grieving family. A team from the Army, the SDRF, and other organizations is working on relief and rescue efforts,” Sinha said in a post on X.

According to the LG, he is always keeping an eye on things and leading the crew on the ground.

“The administration is offering medical facilities to those who have been injured and all possible support to the families of those who have lost loved ones.” Teams in Marcos have also been informed. I am leading the team on the ground and keeping an eye on the situation all the time,” Sinha said.

The event was met with sadness also by the National Conference.

“Three minors lost their lives when their boat capsized in Gandbal, Batwara. JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President @OmarAbdullah express great sorrow and anguish over this awful event. In a statement on X, the party added, “JKNC senior leader @RuhullahMehdi and CI @ahsanpardesi also join in expressing their profound grief.”

The party called on the government to step up rescue operations and provide all-encompassing assistance to the impacted families.

It stated, “Their thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this time of grief.”

Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of J&K and head of the PDP, expressed her condolences for the lives lost in the event.

“There are reports surfacing of several kid deaths. “I urge the administration to extend all possible help, and I offer my deepest condolences to their families,” she said.

Altaf Thakur, the spokesman for the BJP in J&K, expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased and hoped for the quick recovery of those receiving treatment at SMHS.

M Y Tarigami, the head of the CPI(M), expressed his profound sadness at the deaths.

“My sincere sympathies go out to the families of the victims. The years-long footbridge building project underscores a squandered chance to avert similar catastrophes, the speaker said.

Altaf Bukhari, the leader of the Apni Party, pleaded with the government to help people in need as soon as possible.

“Heartbroken to learn about the sad capsize of a boat on the River Jhelum in Batwara, Srinagar, that was carrying numerous people, including children.

It is tragic when valuable lives are lost. I’m praying and thinking about the families impacted by this horrible disaster. urging the government to provide assistance to people in need as soon as possible,” Bukhari said.