In a heart-wrenching incident, a boat ferrying eight migrant labourers capsized in River Jhelum on Wednesday evening, claiming the lives of two individuals while six others were fortunate enough to be rescued.
The distressing event unfolded in Hatiwara, Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, at approximately 7 pm. The labourers, engaged in fieldwork across the river, opted for the river route to reach their destination, a decision that tragically ended in disaster.
An official account revealed that the boat suddenly capsized in the middle of the river, prompting a swift response from residents, police, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, who immediately launched a rescue operation.
While six individuals were successfully rescued, two remained missing, adding to the sorrow and urgency of the situation.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Basharat Qayoom, shed light on the prevalent practice of using the river route as a shortcut by local residents, particularly labourers and farmers, to access fields situated on the other side of the river – Kakapora. Despite the availability of a motorable bridge merely 1 km from the incident site, the allure of a shorter route proved fatal in this instance.
As rescue efforts continue unabated, a collaborative operation involving the police, SDRF, and officials from the Revenue Department is underway to locate and retrieve the missing individuals.
This unfortunate incident marks the second boat capsizing within a month in the region, echoing the dire need for heightened safety measures and vigilance along the river routes. The community mourns the loss of lives and prays for the swift recovery of those still missing, underscoring the importance of prioritizing safety and precautionary measures to avert such tragedies in the future.