Bandipora, Jul 22: A 14-year-old boy and his mother were recovered dead from a stream in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday amid incessant rains and increased water flow in almost all small and big rivulets and streams.
Police identified the deceased boy as Aamir Ahmad Khatana, son of Mehboob Khatana, and mother Gudi Begum, residents of uphill village of Tangath in Bonakoot.
The boy was retreived near Guzarbal village. His body was spotted rushing down from muddy water of Guzarbalnallah by the locals. Locals then informed Police who shortly reached the site and took the body into custody to complete medico-legal formalities and identification. Later the boy was shifted to District Hospital Bandipora.
In the meanwhile, boy’s mother, Gudi Begum, too was reported missing and suspected to have drowned in the same stream at the same pot, with locals police and other agencies launching massive search operation. Within a few hours, the mother too was recovered dead near the power house.
“It is a heartbreaking tragedy,” Deputy ComissionerBandipora, InduKanwalChib, told media persons. She said the incessant rains will further increase the water levels and suggested that people should take note of todays incident and not venture near or into the streams to collect firewood. She said those facing distressing situation or scarcity of food should contact the administration rather than risking their lives.
“We are here to help,” the DC said. She said, she has been continuously receiving messages that people are venturing out to collect wood from water bodies. “If there is no life left what is the fun of risking it all,” she said. The circumstances surrounding the deaths have not been clear but attributed to massive water flow in the water bodies.
The administration has already advised people against venturing close to the water bodies due to high water flow.
Major streams like Madhumati, Arin Nallah, and other small and big rivulets, on Wednesday witnessed massive water flow, with water breaching embankments at certain places creating panic among the nearby residents.
