Jammu: A four-month-old infant drowned, while his mother and aunt were rescued after they slipped into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said.
The trio was attempting to cross the river using makeshift wooden logs in the Mughal Maidan area when they lost balance and were swept away by the current, the officials said.
Locals rushed to the spot and managed to rescue the two women, after strenuous efforts, while the boy drowned and his body was later retrieved downstream.
The incident sparked protests, with residents accusing the administration of failing to restore a vital bridge that was washed away in flash floods September last year.
The protesters blocked the road and raised slogans, demanding immediate compensation for the bereaved family and urgent construction of a permanent bridge.
Senior Congress leader and former MLA G M Saroori joined the protest and urged the authorities to act without delay.
“This tragedy is the result of administrative apathy. The bridge must be constructed at the earliest to prevent further loss of life,” he said.
Locals said that they have repeatedly appealed for restoration of connectivity, but no concrete steps have been taken, forcing them to risk their lives by crossing the river on temporary wooden structures. (PTI)
