Srinagar: Top political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir including three former Chief Ministers on Tuesday expressed deep shock over the loss of lives in boat capsize incident in Batwara area of Srinagar district. The leaders offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and urged LG led administration to extend its all possible help to the affected families.
Condoling the deaths and extending sympathies to the bereaved families National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, “Sending heartfelt condolences to the victim’s families. The delay in the construction of a footbridge, highlights a missed opportunity to avert such tragedies. My deepest condolences to their families and I urge the administration to extend all help possible.”
Another former chief minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah expressed deep concern over the tragic incident and prayed for the safe rescue to persons on board. “Deeply concerned by the reports of a boat capsizing on the river Jhelum at Gandabal, Batwara near Srinagar. I hope & pray that all on board this boat are rescued safely & swiftly,” Omar in a post on X said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also expressed shock, and expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families. She urged upon the administration to extend all possible help to the victim families. “Shocked to hear about the tragic accident in Batwara where a boat capsized. Reports coming in of several children dead. My deepest condolences to their families & I urge the administration to extend all help possible,” Mehbooba on X said.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said the loss of precious lives in the boat capsize is heartbreaking, and extended their thoughts and prayers to the families affected by this terrible incident. “Devastated to hear of the tragic capsizing of a boat carrying several persons, including children, in the River Jhelum near Batwara, Srinagar. The loss of precious lives is heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this terrible accident. Urging the administration to swiftly extend support to those in need,” Bukhari said.
Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone extended his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the devastating boat capsizing incident in Gandbal-Batwara area of Srinagar. Expressing deep distress over the tragic news, he particularly empathised with the loss of numerous minors in the incident. “It is such distressing news. My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. So many minors have lost their lives. My prayers and thoughts are with the parents during this unimaginably difficult time,” stated Lone. Furthermore, he called upon the administration and SDRF teams to expedite rescue operations and ensure the survivors receive prompt and best possible medical care. He also urged the authorities to provide all possible help to the bereaved families during this difficult time.
Chairman J&K Peoples Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and a former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen while expressing his shock and grief over the death of school going children sought a thorough inquiry into the tragic incident with a demand to fix responsibility as to why inordinate delay has been caused to complete the underconstruction bridge near the site of this tragic accident. He said locals have alleged that thetragedy is because of the absence of a bridge adding that they have been promised high and tall but unfortunately nobody has bothered to ensure a bridge in the locality. He said it was amply clear that due to inordinate delay of several years in completion of the under construction bridge near the site ,that the people of the area have been compelled to travel on boats and ferrying thier minor students to a local school. He has prayed that the Almighty Allah may give enough strength to the bereaved families to withstand this immense loss. He said though there was no substitute to subside the pain and agony of the deceased families, the government should immediately sanction adequate compensation to the next of the kins of deceased families.
