Locals, police join hands to recover body
Pattan: Hours-long multi-agency rescue operation involving police, civil administration, rescue teams and local volunteers ended in tragedy on Monday after the body of a 21-year-old youth was recovered from a river near Jeel Bridge in Singhpora area of Pattan.
The deceased was identified as Murtaza Bashir, a resident of Singhpora. He drowned while bathing in the river after reportedly slipping into deep water during the afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said the youth was bathing with others when he suddenly disappeared in the fast-flowing waters. Locals immediately informed the authorities, triggering a coordinated search operation.
Police personnel, rescue teams and civil administration officials rushed to the spot, while scores of local volunteers, particularly youth from Singhpora, joined the operation. Despite strong currents and difficult conditions, the volunteers worked alongside rescuers to identify the probable location where the youth had gone missing, significantly aiding the search efforts.
The rescue operation was supervised by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pattan, Dr. Gulzar Ahmad, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Pattan, Raja Majid, who remained at the site throughout the operation. The officers coordinated the efforts of different agencies and monitored the search until the body was recovered.
After nearly 1 hour of intensive efforts, rescuers retrieved the body from the river. It was immediately shifted to a nearby Trauma Hospital Pattan for medico-legal formalities.
The incident drew a large crowd of residents to the riverbank as the search operation progressed. Family members and locals anxiously awaited updates while rescue personnel continued combing the river.
Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated legal proceedings. Officials said the circumstances leading to the drowning are being investigated.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the risks associated with bathing in rivers during the summer months, when rising temperatures draw large numbers of people to water bodies.
Officials urged the public, particularly youngsters, to avoid entering deep or fast-flowing stretches of rivers, warning that even familiar locations can become dangerous due to changing water levels and strong undercurrents.
Residents also appreciated the swift response by the police, civil administration, rescue teams and local volunteers, whose coordinated efforts led to the recovery of the body despite challenging conditions.
