Committee to develop policies for regulating water transportation in Srinagar

A committee has been established by the authorities to develop regulations for water transportation after a boat capsized in the Jhelum River, resulting in the deaths of six people.

An urgent conference of officials from several departments was held by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Tuesday in order to develop a plan to prevent future boat capsizing accidents and save valuable lives, according to an official statement. As he emphasized the safety precautions for maritime travel, Bidhuri issued a directive requiring life jackets for every passenger.

A committee was established by the divisional commissioner to draft a policy for the management of water transportation. Officers from the district administration and other relevant departments make up this team, which is led by Kashmir Additional Commissioner Qazi Sarwar, the source said. He said that Bidhuri has also ordered a safety assessment of every waterborne transportation system. The official said, “In addition, he gave orders to forbid ferrying passengers over the capacity of boats.”

During the conference, the licensing and control of water transportation methods operating in Jhelum and other bodies of water were addressed. PTI

Relief of Rs 5L ex gratia

Srinagar: The next of kin of the victims of the boat capsize disaster received an ex gratia payment of Rs five lakh apiece on Wednesday from the J&K government. Divisional Commissioners VK Bhiduri of Kashmir and Bilal Mohiuddin of Srinagar visited Gandbal, spoke with the families of the victims, and gave the surviving relatives of each dead person an ex gratia of Rs five lakh.