In a tragic mishap in the Kashmir Valley, a boat ferrying over a dozen people including school children capsized in the River Jhelum. Six persons including four children were killed following the mishap. A major search operation is on to trace the missing persons.
As per officials, the boat was ferrying 19 people including 7 school children, all from Gandbal village in Srinagar outskirts, who were crossing the river towards Batwara. Seven persons were immediately rescued while a massive rescue operation was launched by the State Disaster Rescue Force (SDRF), National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), police, CRPF and Army in the river.
The rescue operation teams succeeded in pulling out nine people from the river and were shifted to a hospital where six of them were declared dead and three others are undergoing treatment. The missing persons include two school children and a parent.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, IGP Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and SSP Srinagar were at Gandbal Batwara and have been monitoring the rescue operations since yesterday. The elite marine commandos of the Indian Navy, Marcos, have also been brought in, to search for the three missing persons.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed deep grief over the incident and assured all possible help from the administration.