Srinagar: Several school going children drowned and are feared dead in Batwara area of Srinagar when the boat they were using to go to school broke in Jhelum river Tuesday morning.
Eyewitnesses say that about 15 individuals, mostly children, were crossing the river in a boat in a flooded Jhelum river when the boat capsized and its occupants drowned.
Although local boatmen tried to rescue some drowning children, the strong water flow swept most of the drowning persons. A few children were rescued in the process.
By the time this report was being filed, at least four children are conformed dead, three are undoing treatment at SMHS Hospital Srinagar and others are missing.
The incident has left the entire area in shock with traumatized parents running helter skelter.
Although search and rescue teams have reached the spot, the time lag between the boat capsize and their arrival may not help in finding survivors.
Locals are also lamenting the absence of the foot bridge in the area which was long expected to help commute across the Jhelum river in the area, especially for vulnerable children.
