Body of Gandbal boat tragedy victim found after nearly two years

KINS Correspondent
Srinagar Jan 19 (KINS): In a tragic closure to a long and painful wait, the body of a man who had gone missing in the Gandbal boat tragedy of 2024 has been recovered nearly two years after the incident.
The victim was among those onboard a boat that capsized in the Jhelum River near Gandbal area of Srinagar in 2024, triggering one of the most distressing river accidents in recent years. While several passengers were rescued and some bodies were recovered in the days following the mishap, one person had remained untraced despite extensive search operations by disaster response teams, police, and local volunteers.
According to officials, the body according to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) was spotted by locals near the riverbank on Monday, following which police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams rushed to the spot and retrieved it. The remains were later identified as that of the missing victim from the Gandbal tragedy, bringing an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty for the family.
“The body has been recovered from the Jhelum and identified as the person who had gone missing in the Gandbal boat capsize incident of 2024. Legal formalities have been completed and the body will be handed over to the family,” a police official said.
The recovery has stirred painful memories of the tragedy, which had sent shockwaves across Kashmir at the time. The overcrowded boat had reportedly capsized due to strong currents and instability, raising serious questions about safety measures and regulation of river transport in the region.
Family members of the deceased expressed mixed emotions of grief and relief. “We never stopped hoping that he would be found someday. At least now we can perform his last rites,” a relative said.
The incident had earlier prompted the administration to announce safety audits of boats operating on the Jhelum and to tighten monitoring of river crossings. However, locals say little has changed on the ground.