Bandipora Tragedy: 14-Year-Old Boy and Mother Drown in Swollen Stream Amid Heavy Rainfall
A 14-year-old boy and his mother lost their lives after they were swept away by a swollen stream in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday. The tragic incident occurred as continuous heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise sharply in rivers and streams across the district. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The victims have been identified as Aamir Ahmad Khatana, son of Mehboob Khatana, and his mother, Gudi Begum, residents of Tangath village in Bonakoot.
According to officials, local residents first spotted the boy’s body in the Guzarbal Nallah and immediately informed the police. Rescue teams recovered the body and shifted it to the District Hospital Bandipora for medico-legal formalities.
Following the recovery of Aamir’s body, his mother was reported missing and was feared to have drowned in the same stream. Police, rescue teams and local volunteers launched an extensive search operation. A few hours later, Gudi Begum’s body was found near a power house downstream.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy and appealed to residents not to risk their lives by going near swollen rivers and streams, especially to collect firewood.
She urged people facing shortages of essential supplies to contact the district administration instead of entering dangerous areas.
“We are here to help,” the Deputy Commissioner said. She added that the administration had repeatedly advised people to stay away from rivers and streams during the ongoing spell of heavy rainfall. She warned that water levels could rise even further and urged residents to treat this tragedy as a serious reminder to follow safety advisories.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has led to a strong flow in major water bodies, including the Madhumati, Arin Nallah, and several smaller streams across Bandipora. In some places, overflowing water breached embankments, causing concern among nearby residents.
Authorities have once again appealed to the public to avoid rivers, streams and other water bodies until weather conditions improve, stressing that public safety remains the top priority.
