Rafting Misadventure Claims 2 More Lives In Pahalgam

SRINAGAR — Two people were killed and eight others were injured on Tuesday in a rafting accident in Lidder river in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam hill station.

Officials said that an employee of the tourism department and a participant of championship, named after brave-heart, Rouf Ahmad Dar, were killed and eight others were injured after a boat capsized in a river Lidder at Pahalgam on Tuesday evening.

The deceased have been identified as Rinku Raja (employee) from Udhampur and the female participant namely Sanjna from Reasi.  

Soon after the incident, a joint team of SDRF, police and local volunteers managed to rescue all of those boarding the boat and were shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared Rinku and Sanjna as brought dead.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism Kashmir announced that it will conduct an inquiry into the “tragic raft capsize” incident.

According to a statement issued here, the employee Rinku Raja from Udhampur and the participant Sanjna died when they along with other participants took out raft for a joy ride in river Lidder.

The incident happened after the conclusion of the Rouf Memorial State Rafting Championship events of the day at 4.10 pm. The 3-day event began on June 17, 2019, in which 12 teams from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh participated, the department said.

The department has expressed deep regrets over the incident and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed profound grief over the loss of precious lives in the “unfortunate incident”.

Governor has prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families in their hour of grief. He has wished speedy recovery to the injured.

Governor announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those dead and has directed the authorities to ensure best possible medical treatment of the injured.

 Expressing concern over accidents occurring during the adventure sport of Rafting in river Lidder, Governor has issued directions that strict safety measures should be taken before indulging in this sport and emphasised the need for allowing only trained manpower in managing all the activities related to it.

On May 31, last month, Rouf Dar saved five tourists, two of them foreigners, after their boat capsized in fast flowing river Lidder near Mawoora area of Pahalgam.

Unfortunately, Dar lost his life in an act of bravery which is being hailed by people and the administration.