Three youths drowned in the River Jhelum at Check Chandergeer village in Hajin area of Bandipora district on Friday after they accidentally slipped into the fast-flowing waters while washing tent material on the riverbank.
The deceased were identified as Sohail Ahmad Dar, 22, son of Ghulam Nabi Dar; Adil Ahmad Dar, 18, son of Bashir Ahmad Dar; and Sameer Ahmad Dar, 22, son of Mohammad Jamal Dar — all residents of Chandergeer Hajin.
Eyewitnesses said the three youths lost balance and slipped into the river while washing tent material. Their cries for help alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the riverbank and launched immediate rescue attempts. Local volunteers were among the first to enter the river in search of the missing youths.
Bodies were recovered in phases over the course of the day following a prolonged rescue operation involving police, Army personnel, and local volunteers. All three bodies were eventually retrieved after hours of searching.
Thousands of people from across Sonawari attended the funeral prayers of the deceased, as grief and mourning engulfed the entire area.
However, the incident also sparked concern among residents over the delayed arrival of SDRF teams. Locals alleged that area youth carried out rescue attempts on their own during the initial phase of the operation before official rescue teams reached the spot.
Residents demanded the establishment of a dedicated SDRF unit in Sonawari to ensure faster response in similar emergencies in the future.
Authorities have initiated proceedings into the incident. All legal and medical formalities were completed before the bodies were handed over to the families for last rites.
Residents and local leaders appreciated the efforts of police, Army personnel, and volunteers who participated in the rescue operation.
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