Srinagar: The search operation to locate the bodies of three persons in the Jhelum near Batwara-Gandabal continued for the fifth day without any breakthrough on Saturday, officials said.
Searches by different teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), MARCOS and other teams have not met with any success in tracing the missing persons — Showkat Ahmad and his son Hazik Showkat, and Farhan Parray.
The tragic incident occurred on April 16 when a boat capsized in the Jhelum River in Gandbal area of Batwara, resulting in the deaths of six persons, while three others also believed to have drowned, remain untraceable so far.
Abdul Rashid an SDRF official said “we have been on our toes, searching for the missing trio, but unfortunately, nothing has been found yet,” He said “we have also been searching near Chattabal Weir as there are chances the bodies might float there, but till now, nothing has been found.”
During the initial stages of the operation, four school bags were recovered near Chattabal Weir, with two additional bags retrieved later in the day by SDRF personnel. (With inputs from KNO)
