Srinagar family turns tragic; Third dead body found from Jhelum

July 14, 2025 by News Desk

Shabir Khan

What began as a joyful family outing turned into a devastating tragedy on Sunday when four individuals were swept away while bathing in the NHPC canal of the Jhelum River near Gantmulla, Baramulla. All bodies have now been recovered.

Officials told The Kashmiriyat that the group had come to Gantmulla, a scenic yet poorly marked stretch of the river, for a picnic. While bathing near the canal, they were caught in a sudden, strong current and pulled under. The force of the water caught them off guard.

Rescue teams and locals responded swiftly. Two were recovered later the same day, one of them deceased. The deceased was identified as Ibrahim Bin Showkat (13), son of Showkat Ali Shah from Narkara, Budgam. One individual, Syed Mohammad Ilyas Geelani (31), son of Mufti Abdul Rahim Geelani of Towheedgunj Baramulla, was rescued alive soon after the incident.

After a prolonged search, the final missing person, Mehnaz Rasheed Shah (30), son of Abdul Rasheed Shah of Khanyar Srinagar, was recovered on Monday afternoon.

The fourth victim, Ahmad Bin Khalid (13), son of Khalid Mehraj Shah from Hyderpora Srinagar, was also recovered during the rescue operation.

Officials noted that while the NHPC canal may appear calm on the surface, it harbors strong and unpredictable undercurrents that pose a grave danger to unsuspecting visitors. Authorities have again urged the public to stay away from bathing or swimming in such unregulated and unsupervised water bodies.

The incident has left three families shattered, and the wider community in mourning. Investigations are ongoing, but locals continue to demand better safety measures and signage around popular picnic spots along the Jhelum.