Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara, Jul 10: Searches for the missing minor girl who drowned at Jagerpora in river Pohru in Kupwara district entered the third day.
On July 08, three minor girls drowned in the river and two were rescued immediately by a local individual. But the search for the third is still on.
Officials said that a Joint operation of SDRF J&K, Marine Commando Force, Police, Revenue, Police and locals is underway for the third consecutive day to retrieve the missing girl.
“Multiple teams have been searching at different spots of river Pohru. Local sand dwellers who are well experienced are also providing their helping hand. Every possible attempt is being made to retrieve the missing girl,” the official said.
The incident occurred on day when incessant rains lashed the Valley, causing rivers to swell. Many believe receding water level can help team to retrieve the body.
Locals from Jagerpora said that although the girl is from Sulkoot Kupwara, people from the village and adjacent areas are taking part in the searches.
Relatives of the missing girl informed that she had gone to her maternal uncle’s home on the eve of Eid Ul Adha. She is said to be a student of 5th standard.
The incident happened when the girls were swimming.
Besides this, locals informed that this is not the first such incident in the aforesaid river. “Drowning incidents took place in the past as well. In some cases, the body wasn’t even retrieved for months.”
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Handwara, Sleet Shah, and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Handwara, Shabir Ahmad on Monday morning also joined the search operation. The authorities are utilizing all the available resources for a better outcome early.
Meanwhile, both areas including her birthplace Sulkoot and Jagerpora are completely shell-shocked. A pall of gloom has descended over both areas with people in numbers visiting the family to console them. Her family members are yet to come to terms as they continue to be in a state of shock. Locals informed that the family has last year lost a daughter as well.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Handwara Nazir Ahmad told KNO that the search operation to retrieve the missing girl is underway.
“Navy forces were also part of the operation today. They were brought from Bandipora to help and assist in the search operation. So far there is no trace of the girl,” he said.
He also said that the operation to retrieve her will continue tomorrow as well if there isn’t the desired outcome.
However, he also said that drowning incidents like in the aforementioned river have happened in the past as well. “In some drowning incidents, the body wasn’t retrieved for months. A body was also found in Uri in a past incident who had drowned in the same river. The flow of this river is very high,” he said.
The ADC added that every possible attempt is being made to retrieve the girl. “Intensity on the efforts won’t come down.”
