After Sikh girl drowns in Jhelum, Anantnag Muslims raise money for last rites, transport to Punjab

July 7, 2025 by News Desk

Suhail Dar

A seven-year-old girl from a Sikh family drowned in the Jhelum river at Batengoo area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday afternoon, prompting an outpouring of grief and compassion from local residents.

Witnesses told The Kashmiriyat that 7-year old Simran Kour accidentally slipped into the river while walking near the banks.

They said that a local boy jumped in and managed to pull her out, rushing her to the nearest hospital.

Police also reached the spot and accompanied the family to the hospital. Despite the swift response, doctors could not save her.

The victim had come from Hoshiarpur Punjab along with her father, who sells clothes seasonally in Kashmir. The tragedy left the family devastated.

In a heartening show of solidarity, local residents in Batengoo came together to raise money for the girl’s last rites and to help the family transport her body back to their hometown in Hoshiarpur.

“She was just a child. We all felt it was our duty to stand with the family in this time of pain,” a local shopkeeper who contributed to the collection, told The Kashmiriyat.

Gurmeet Singh, a Sikh trader based in Anantnag, expressed deep gratitude for the support. “Local Muslims came forward to help the Sikh family. Kashmir has always had a big heart. Today was just another reminder,” he said.

The body was later sent to Punjab, accompanied by family members, with assistance from both local residents and the police.

Authorities have urged the public to be cautious near rivers, especially during the monsoon season, as water levels and currents can be dangerously unpredictable.