APHC mourns victims of Srinagar boating tragedy, calls for accountability

Srinagar, The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) has expressed profound grief over the loss of lives in a recent boat capsizing incident in Srinagar, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The tragic event resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including five children, with three others still missing.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident occurred at Gandbal in the Batwara area of Srinagar when a boat, carrying schoolchildren, capsized. APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas conveyed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and called for divine solace for the victims and strength for their families during this difficult time.

Minhas emphasized the community’s role in providing support and solidarity to the bereaved families, advocating for collective assistance and comfort. He also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident, criticizing the long-delayed construction of a footbridge, which he noted as a factor contributing to the tragedy.

The delay in infrastructure projects, such as the footbridge under construction for the last 15 years, was highlighted as indicative of the local authorities’ neglect of essential public services.

Grand Mufti of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasirul Islam, also voiced his distress over the incident, particularly the impact on children, and called for unwavering support for the affected families.

Further reactions came from APHC leader Yasmeen Raja and APHC-AJK convener, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, who attributed the tragedy to the “criminal negligence” of the Indian administration. Raja personally visited the families to offer condolences.

The collective response from Kashmiri leaders underscores the community’s call for accountability and immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future.