Bandipora, May 31: The pristine villages of Chuntimulla and Surinder in the upper reaches of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district echoed with grief and mourning on Sunday afternoon after a father and son were swept away in the icy waters of a rivulet during a recreational visit to the area.
According to locals, 18-year-old Ubaid Shabir Wani from Nadhihal village, entered the Kudhara rivulet near Mughal Basti, close to Chuntimulla village, for a bath when he was swept away by strong currents.
In an attempt to save his son, his father, Shabir, jumped into the water but was also carried away by the current.
As locals rushed to assist in the rescue effort, Shabir was pulled out alive with serious injuries, while Ubaid was later retrieved unconscious.
Both were shifted to the District Hospital Bandipora with the assistance of police personnel, paramedics, and locals.
“Ubaid was brought a little later, and despite all our efforts, we were unable to revive him,” DrMohsinQadir, the attending medical officer, told reporters.
He said the hospital received information about the incident at around 3:45 pm. Ubaid was subsequently declared brought dead on arrival.
The doctor said the father had been brought to the hospital about 10 minutes earlier in a critical condition.
“We stabilised him and provided the necessary emergency medical care,” he said.
Dr Qadir said that Shabir had sustained aspiration-related complications after inhaling water and was referred to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment.
