Rescue for operations for those missing in a boat tragedy in Jhelum waters near Batwara’s Gandabal neighbourhood entered the third day on Thursday.
A father-son duo and another young child are yet to be traced, say officials.
On Tuesday, a shikara ferrying 15 people capsized in the Jhelum near Batwara, leading to the deaths of six people, including a woman and her twin children as well as the boatman.
Teams from the SDRF, NDRF, MARCOS marine commandos , Fire and Emergency, and others had stepped up their attempts to recover the missing.
Divisional Commander, Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said on Thursday that efforts had been stepped up to trace the missing people at the earliest, adding, "Today, 14 teams from the NDRF, SDRF, ARMY, River Police, and other agencies were deployed for rescue operations."
The operation is set to last all night and begin in the morning, he added.
On various unconfirmed reports that a bridge under construction since 2014 had forced the people to take the boat and that the boat had struck a pillar of the bridge, Bidhuri said it was “supposed to be a major factor of this incident… we have verified the information and it will be completed in June this year.”
Although people have accused the administration of negligence in the construction of this much-needed bridge, locals also allege that the government had funds to beautify Srinagar city for tourists but not for essential and critical small-scale projects which were necessary.
As a gesture of support, the next of kin of the deceased were given ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each, while Rs 50,000 each was given to the four injured individuals.
In a message on X, LG Sinha said, "I am profoundly saddened by the loss of life in a boat accident in Srinagar. My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families, and I ask the Almighty to grant them the strength to bear this enormous loss. A team of SDRF, Army, and other organisations is conducting out relief and rescue operations.
"The administration is offering all possible assistance to mourning families who have lost loved ones, as well as medical care to those who have been hurt.
Marcos teams have also been notified. "I am constantly monitoring the situation and directing the team on the ground," he said in a post on X.
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