Shopian /Pulwama May 1: As the lifeless body of three-year-old Hanzala arrived at his home in Tiken village, around 5 kilometres from south Kashmir’s Pulwama town, on Friday afternoon, a sea of mourners gathered, with grief hanging heavy in the air as they came together for his final rites.

Hanzala had drowned in the Rambiara river near Dubijan along the heritage Mughal Road on April 26 and was swept away by strong currents. Teams of the NDRF, SDRF, police and local residents spent days combing the river in search of the missing child.

On Friday morning, Ashiq Hussain Wani, a resident of Heerpora village, along with his father, recovered the body from the river.

Familiar with the river’s terrain, Wani had joined the search alongside his brother and other locals, scanning stretches of the river despite strong currents and freezing conditions.

On Friday, Wani and his father, Farooq Ahmad, moved nearly 4 kilometres downstream from the spot where the child had gone missing, continuing the search in icy waters.

“In the middle of the river, I noticed a large boulder and felt the body could be trapped underneath,” Wani said.

He said his father cautioned him against entering the fast-flowing waters without safety gear, but he chose to proceed.

“I took the risk and checked beneath the boulder. As I reached under it, I felt a body,” he said. “I immediately called out to my father and some local boys on the riverbank, and we pulled the child out.”

Wani said he could not bear the pain of the child’s family.

“The thought of his mother crying would not let me sleep. That is why I continued the search until we found him,” he said.

The recovery brought an end to days of uncertainty for the family, even as the operation highlighted the risks faced by locals who take part in such rescue efforts.

Authorities had been conducting search operations since Sunday, but strong currents and the river’s rocky terrain made the task difficult.

“The administration offered every possible help to locate the child,” said a relative of Hanzala.

As news of the recovery spread, thousands of mourners thronged Tiken village to pay their last respects and take part in the funeral prayers.

“The entire area has been drowned in grief since the incident,” said Farpooq Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama. “It is not just the family, the whole village is mourning.”

Another mourner said the tragedy had deeply shaken the community. “We have not seen such sorrow in a long time. Everyone came out to stand with the grieving family,” he said.

Residents said people from neighbouring villages also joined the funeral, reflecting the scale of the loss. “People walked from far-off places to be here. It shows how deeply this has affected everyone,” another resident said.

Exploiting tragedies

Amid the rescue efforts, residents said some individuals sought to exploit the tragedy for visibility. Despite sustained operations by authorities and local volunteers, locals alleged that a section of people visited the site primarily to post content on social media.

“It is tragic that some people came here merely to upload pictures on their social media accounts,” said Zaid Raja, a local reporter and resident.

Others also claimed that a few individuals attempted to draw political mileage from the incident, drawing criticism from the community.

Ganderbal, May 1: The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) has imposed a complete ban on the movement of ponies along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway and designated footpaths in the tourist resort Sonamarg, citing damage to public infrastructure and safety of visitors and smooth traffic flow.

An order issued by Chief Executive Officer, SDA, said the step has been taken following complaints of traffic jams, accidents, and inconvenience to pedestrians due to unregulated pony movement on the highway stretch from Gagangeer to Baltal. The order follows a communication from the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal highlighting misuse of footpaths and roadside stretches along the highway, where pony movement was found to be causing damage to public assets and disrupting commuter movement. “Pony owners and operators are directed to use only the notified pony tracks and keep the highway and footpaths free for vehicular and pedestrian movement. Violators will face fine and seizure of animals under relevant provisions,” the order read.

Authorities said the issue has been viewed seriously as it impacts public safety, cleanliness, and the overall environment of the tourist destination. The decision comes ahead of the peak tourist season and the upcoming AmarnathYatra, when Sonamarg witnesses heavy footfall. Local hoteliers and trade bodies have welcomed the move, saying it will reduce congestion and improve the experience of tourists. As per the directions, pony operators have been confined to a designated pony stand at Shutkadi, and any movement beyond the notified area has been prohibited. Officials said any deviation will be treated as a violation and attract strict action. The authority has also instructed daily monitoring and enforcement on the ground, with teams to be deployed for regular patrolling to ensure compliance.

Baramulla, May 1: Baramulla town in north Kashmir is set for a major upgrade in sanitation infrastructure following the approval of a Rs 40 crore Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), addressing a long-standing demand of residents.

For years, the absence of an adequate waste management system had led to the accumulation of garbage in the town. Authorities had designated the jetty area as a dumping site, where waste from Baramulla as well as other parts of north Kashmir was disposed of.

The practice drew criticism from residents and environmental observers, as leachate from the waste flowed into the Jhelum River, raising serious concerns about pollution and public health.

The Jhelum, considered the lifeline of Baramulla, is a key source of water for a large section of the population, intensifying fears over continued contamination.

The approval of the STP has been widely welcomed. Farooq Ahmad, a local resident, termed the decision a significant step towards improving civic amenities. “With the growing population, such infrastructure is essential and should be prioritised,” he said.

Baramulla MLA Javed Hassan Beigh, who pushed for the project, said the approval brings major relief to residents. He thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for clearing the proposal, stating that it would address the town’s sanitation needs.

“I am highly thankful to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for approving this project. It will ensure that the sanitation needs of the town are properly addressed,” he said.

President of the Baramulla Traders Federation, Tariq Ahmad Mughloo, also welcomed the move, saying the project would significantly reduce pollution and help safeguard the Jhelum, marking a step towards sustainable urban management in the town.

Srinagar, May 01: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has expressed deep disappointment over the INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, “not supporting” the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood with the “expected vigour”.

In a candid assessment of the opposition bloc, Abdullah said that while his party remains a committed member of the alliance, it has fallen short of its potential.

He also flagged the lack of a robust, unified approach to Jammu and Kashmir’s issues as a primary point of contention within the bloc.

“You see, that has been our biggest objection to this national alliance…we have the hope that they would, with far more vigour, fight for our cause. That has not happened. Really very sad that the major party Indian National Congress has not really played the role that we expect from it,” Abdullah told PTI in an interview.

He further urged the alliance to move beyond being a mere electoral pact, calling for more frequent meetings to address the “ignored” future of the nation.

“….it is very clear that we are not part of the BJP and we will never be part of it. We are part of the INDIA bloc. I hope that the alliance post-election will get together again and take up not only the national issue but the issue of Jammu and Kashmir statehood in a much stronger way,” he said.

Abdullah, a three-time Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, said it was “very important” to have frequent meetings of the INDIA bloc. “This alliance is not only for elections. It is for the future of this nation which at times is being ignored. I am very sad to say this.”

In reply to a question on the current state of democratic condition and political environment for emerging youth leaders, he regretted that the opposition has not been able to project a leader “who could meet the challenges” posed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He advised opposition leaders to have a far more robust approach to the general public, “leave air-conditioned offices” and face the “heat and dust” as a common man. “Today’s politics is very different to what it was 50 years ago,” he said, adding that today “we don’t have Gandhi, Nehru or Indira”.

Abdullah expressed hope that the Centre will take a decision on the restoration of statehood to J&K after the process of assembly elections in various states is over.

He said Prime Minister Modi and the government are committed, both in the Parliament as well as in the Supreme Court, to restoring statehood to J&K.

“Now, how long will they take this? One cannot say. And their assurances to the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) have been there. Assurances to our members of Parliament, who went and met the Home Minister (Amit Shah). He also assured them. We are hopeful that after these state elections are over, they will take up this issue of statehood,” he said.

Asked whether his party will approach the Supreme Court to seek a clarification surrounding the timeline for restoring statehood, Abdullah acknowledged that while the prime minister and the home minister have given repeated assurances, a specific date remains elusive but indicated if things did not materialise, the party may approach the top court.

The apex court had directed in December 2023 that statehood be restored “at the earliest”.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by the then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had delivered three concurring judgements upholding abrogation of Article 370.

The then chief justice had said, “We direct that steps shall be taken by the Election Commission to conduct elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir constituted under Section 14 of the Reorganisation Act by September 30, 2024. Restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest…”

Abdullah indicated that if the current political assurances do not materialise, the National Conference may explore legal option. “I think that is the logical outcome if it does not move any further,” he said regarding the possibility of a fresh petition, adding “then the only thing we are left with is the Supreme Court”.

Regarding the relations between the ruling National Conference with the Centre, he said as far as government-to-government relationship is concerned, it is there and recently a good package was given for rural roads. “There are many issues that are still pending with the central government and I am sure slowly and steadily they will also be taken up,” he said.

Abdullah, a veteran politician with nearly five decades of political career, was asked to give advice to emerging youth leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.

“To my people and to the leaders of today, I would say, be honest in what you want to do and be straight. Don’t bluff the people. People are far more intelligent than one realises,” he warned.

He urged the youth to stay focused on removing poverty and ignorance, despite the “enemies in every direction” attempting to change their course.

Shopian, May 1: Ashiq Hussain Wani, a resident of Heerpora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, spent days combing the Rambiara river in search of a missing three-year-old boy before finally recovering the body on Friday.

The child, Mohammad Hanzallah of Tiken village, had drowned near Dubijan on Sunday, triggering a massive search operation involving teams from the SDRF, NDRF, police, and local volunteers.

Familiar with the river’s terrain, Wani joined the search along with his brother and other locals, scanning stretches of the river despite strong currents and freezing conditions.

On Friday morning, Wani and his father, Farooq Ahmad, moved nearly 4 km downstream from the spot where the child had gone missing, continuing the search in icy waters.

“In the middle of the river, I noticed a large boulder and felt the body could be trapped underneath,” Wani said.

He said his father cautioned him against entering the fast-flowing waters without safety gear, but he decided to proceed.

“I took the risk and checked beneath the boulder. As I reached under it, I felt a body,” he said. “I immediately called out to my father and some local boys on the riverbank, and we pulled the child out.”

Wani said he was deeply moved by the family’s grief. “I couldn’t bear their pain. The thought of his mother crying wouldn’t let me sleep. That’s why I continued the search until we found him,” he said.

He said the recovery brought an end to days of uncertainty for the family, even as the operation highlighted the risks faced by locals who join such efforts.

Authorities had been conducting search operations since Sunday, but strong currents and the river’s rocky terrain made the task difficult.

“The administration offered every possible help to locate the child,” said a relative of Hanzallah.

The body was later handed over to the family for last rites.

Concerns Over Social Media Conduct

Amid the rescue efforts, some residents alleged that a few individuals attempted to exploit the tragedy for visibility on social media.

“It is tragic that some people came here merely to upload pictures on their social media accounts,” said Zaid Raja, a local reporter and resident.

Others also claimed that a few individuals sought to draw political mileage from the incident, drawing criticism from the community.