Prevent loss of lives

The use of water transport has once again resulted in the devastating incident in Kashmir Valley as two persons went missing while seven others were rescued after a boat capsized in Awantipora area of south Kashmir Wednesday. This is the second such incident reported within the period of less than a month as earlier, six persons died on the spot while bodies of two minors were rescued and one person continues to remain untraced after a boat capsizing incident took place in Gandbal area of Batwara here on April 16. It is unfortunate that such incidents continue to occur in Kashmir where the authorities could have taken prior measures to ensure that the people cross the river Jhelum easily by using the bridges. But, the absence of the bridges has been forcing them to use water transport, which simultaneously is leading to the unfortunate incidents. As the two such incidents have taken place within the period of less than one month, there is a need to prevent any such incident in the future by ensuring that the people have adequate facilities like bridges due to which the use of water transport can be avoided. The administration in their respective districts should identify all the locations where the water transport is being used and ensure that the normal boats are at least replaced with the modern boats so that these incidents can be prevented in the future. There is a need to direct the executing agencies to speed up the pace of the work on the under construction bridges so that the people could heave a sigh of relief.