Srinagar: An unidentified girl on Wednesday afternoon jumped in the river Jhelum in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar even as rescue operation has been launched, officials said.
An official told news agency Kashmir News Observer that soon after the girl jumped in the river Jhelum rescue operation was launched to trace her.
He said that the operation is underway and efforts are being made to retrieve her body. Police have take cognisance of the matter.
Pertinetly, Kashmir is witnessing a disturbing rise in drowning incidents this year, with 35 cases reported from January to July 2024. This marks a huge increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 22 drowning incidents.
According to data, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched 74 rescue operations so far this year.
The highest number of incidents occurred in June 2024, with 11 drownings reported in that month alone. This is in stark contrast to the entire year of 2023, which recorded a total of 48 drowning incidents and 92 rescue operations.
Many observers believe that the recent rise in drowning cases is attributed to the increasing frequency of hot weather, driven by climatic changes. The scorching temperatures have led many people to seek relief by bathing in local water bodies, a trend that has proven fatal on several occasions.
Public awareness campaigns and increased safety measures are needed to prevent further tragedies, they said. Notably, most of the time, the SDRF ropes in the NDRF and other concerned agencies to aid them in extended rescue operations.
