One dead, two missing after four drown in power canal

Baramulla, July 13: A 13-year-old boy died and two others remain missing after four persons drowned while bathing in the Gantamulla Power Canal of the lower Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (LJHP) near Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday.State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) spokesman said that the incident occurred earlier on Sunday when four members of a Srinagar-based family were swept away by the powerful current while bathing in the canal reservoir. Two of them were retrieved in the initial stage by locals, one found alive and the other dead.“The deceased has been identified as Ibrahim Bin Showkat, 13, son of Showkat Ali Shah, a resident of Narkara, Budgam. The rescued individual is Syed Mohammad Ilyas Geelani, 31, son of Mufti Abdul Rahim Geelani of Towheedgunj, Baramulla. He was shifted to PHC Sheeri for medical attention, and his condition is reported to be stable,” he said.The spokesman further said that two missing individuals have been identified as Mehnaz Rashid Shah, 40, son of Abdul Rashid Shah, resident of Khanyar, Srinagar, Ahmad Bin Khalid, 12, son of Khalid Mehraj Shah, resident of Hyderpora, SrinagarHe further said that the Baramulla unit of SDRF, in coordination with Civil Defence Uri and local police from Police Station Bonyar, launched a joint rescue operation immediately after being alerted.“Search operations were ongoing at the time of this report, with efforts concentrated near the Gantamulla section of the power canal,” he said.The spokesman further said that initial reports suggest that the group was part of a family picnic near the canal when two children slipped into the water.“In an attempt to save them, two other family members jumped in and were also swept away by the swift current,” he added.The canal, fed by the Jhelum River and part of a key hydroelectric power installation, has strong and often unpredictable water flow, especially during the monsoon season. Residents have demanded the installation of warning signs, fencing, and public awareness campaigns to prevent similar incidents in the future.Meanwhile, authorities have urged people to exercise extreme caution around water bodies and confirmed that all available resources, including divers, have been deployed to locate the missing individuals. The SDRF, Civil Defence, local police, and volunteers continue to coordinate the rescue operation.