Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar,(DD): Tragedy struck Srinagar on Thursday evening after a boat capsized in Dal Lake amid sudden gusty winds, leaving a father rescued and his son feared drowned.
The incident occurred near the Ghat No. 7 area when high-velocity winds overturned the small boat carrying the duo. Locals and authorities quickly launched a rescue operation, pulling the father out of the water alive. However, his son remained untraceable till late evening.
“The boat was caught in a sudden storm. One person was rescued immediately, but the child is still missing,” said a senior official from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which is leading the ongoing search effort along with J&K Police and local volunteers.
Eyewitnesses reported panic as the weather turned abruptly. “The winds were violent. Within seconds the boat flipped,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a nearby boatman who witnessed the incident.
Divers have been deployed and drones are assisting in the operation, while emotional scenes unfolded on the banks as family members awaited updates.
This incident has reignited calls for mandatory life jackets and weather monitoring systems for boats operating on the lake, especially during unpredictable spring weather conditions.(DD)