Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has expressed distress over the loss of life in the boat capsizing tragedy at Batwara – Gandabal River Jhelum crossing.
“The KCCI mourns the loss of life of 6 persons including School Children. It appeals the administration to redouble the operation to search the missing persons. It is a tragic and inconsolable loss to the families of the children who were on way to school in the ill-fated boat and never returned. No words are enough to grieve over the loss and express condolences to the families of the victims”, KCCI said in a statement issued to Ziraat Times.
KCCI believes that this tragic incident could have been averted had the concerned authorities shown sensitivity to the situation that existed at the spot and many other dangerous river crossings. “It is perplexing to note that the process of construction of the bridge had been initiated at the site but abandoned for un-known reasons. The safety and security of citizens is the foremost duty of any Government but in this and other such cases the safety concerns have been ignored. It would be worthwhile to mention that the KCCI in Srinagar Smart City Project Limited meetings had been pressing to take Developmental / Beautification works beyond the Srinagar Municipal Limits but the suggestion was ignored on the ground that the funds earmarked would have to be spent within the Srinagar Municipal Limits”, KCCI added.
The KCCI has demanded that the work on Batwara- Gandabal Bridge be taken up on war footing, as also on other similarly situated River Crossing bridges/footbridges be taken up/completed on urgent basis to avert similar incidents and loss of more lives.
