Srinagar, 2 July: On the early morning of June 30 when Srinagar city was reeling under flood threat, a terrible tragedy struck the “Nagrota community” in Tangpora when a teenager belonging to this community, Mohammad Asif, drowned in a flood channel while saving a puppy in the area.
According to the family of slain teenager, around 10 in the morning, Asif saw a puppy struggling to come out from the flood channel of Tangpora.
“He immediately along with other two boys jumped into the channel to rescue it. However, the other two youth made it to the bank but Asif was washed away by the fast flowing water of the channel.”
Asif was married last year and is survived by his wife, Shazia Begum, who is seven months pregnant. Shazia who is born mute watched her husband die in front of her eyes which has left her traumatized.
While sharing her woes with ‘Kashmir Images’ Shamshada Begum, mother in law of Asif, says: “We tried a lot to save him with help of ropes but all in vain. He kept crying for help till he disappeared in the water. Earlier, we tried to stop him from jumping into the water but he told us that “I cannot watch an animal being drowned in front of me.”
It has been three days since Asif drowned but his body is yet to be recovered.
The mother of Asif, Naseema Begum, stills hopes for her son’s return and is refusing to eat or drink anything. “Let Asif come first only then I will eat something,” says Naseema.
“Asif was the only bread earner in his family. His other two siblings are not mentally sound, besides his father also unwell.
“He used to repair stoves, umbrellas and other small items to support his family financially,” narrate Asif’s family.
The tragedy has left entire family in deep shock.
They say that in this time of grief, the locals of Tangpora are helping the community to their best by providing them food.
“From last three days, Kashmiris have helped us a lot. They provided us with food and are also assisting us in searching the body of Asif,” says Asif’s aunt.
Locals have also set up a tent where people of the community along with locals are mourning the loss together.
Meanwhile, the police continued to search for the body of Asif on the third consecutive day today but the body has not been recovered so far.
It is pertinent to mention here that a group of Muslim families from Nagrota Jammu shift to Kashmir during summers every year.
