The body of a 10-year-old boy who drowned in Madhumati Nallah in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district was recovered on Monday, five days after the incident.
Momin Ahmad Ganie, a fourth-standard student from Ganie Mohalla in Kaloosa, had slipped into the nallah while trying to retrieve a cricket ball.
A large-scale search operation was launched following the incident, involving local volunteers, police, SDRF, civil administration, politicians, the Army and other agencies.
On Monday, Momin’s body was recovered several metres downstream from the spot where he had drowned by local volunteers, including Owais Ahmad Dar.
“Everyone was in pain and worried about how long it would take for the body to be recovered. Although the child has passed away, the recovery will reduce some of the pain in the hearts of the bereaved family,” said Tahir Ahmad Dar, a local volunteer involved in the recovery.
Momin was the only boy among four sisters. Thousands of people gathered at his residence before his funeral prayers were offered.
The incident has prompted residents living along the Madhumati Nallah to call for stronger safety and emergency response measures.
Residents urged the administration to provide at least four to five life jackets in villages including Nathpora, Kaloosa, Lankreshipora and Kulhama so that locals can immediately begin rescue efforts during emergencies.
“This could even help us recover drowned persons alive, so that no time is wasted waiting for the SDRF and other agencies to arrive with machines and equipment,” a local resident said.
Former MLA Usman Majid called for immediate measures to secure vulnerable stretches of the nallah.
“I urge the administration to take immediate and necessary measures to properly fence and secure the vulnerable stretches of Nallah Madhumati, so that no more precious lives are lost,” he said.
