Advisor Ganai condoles death of 2 persons in Pahalgam raft capsize

Srinagar, Jun 19: Advisor to the Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganai has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of two persons after a rafting boat capsizes in river Lidder in world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam.

Two persons were killed and five injured when a rafting boat capsizes in river Lidder in Pahalgam during a three-day rafting championship in memory of Rouf Dar, the brave-heart tourist guide who died earlier this month while rescuing tourists from river Lidder.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Department has launched an enquiry into the incident.

In his condolence message, Mr Ganai, who is Advisor in-charge Tourism Department, conveyed his heart-felt sympathies to the bereaved families of the deceased and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He also wished speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.

The Advisor asked Director Tourism Kashmir to conduct an inquiry into the incident and suspend rafting activities till the enquiry is completed and till further orders.

On May 31, a tourist guide died while saving seven tourists, including two foreigners, after a boat capsized in Lidder river in Pahalgam.

An official said that the Department of Tourism Kashmir will conduct an inquiry into the tragic raft capsize at Pahalgam in which its employee and a participant drowned in river Lidder after the closure of the events for the day.

''An employee Rinku Raja from Udhampur and a participant Sanjna hailing from Reasi died in the incident when they along with other participants took out raft for a joy ride in river Lidder,'' he said.

He said the SDRF, police and volunteers managed to rescue other rafters within 15 minutes of the incident, who were shifted to a nearby hospital.

''The incident happened after the conclusion of the Rouf Memorial State Rafting Championship events of the day at 1610 hrs. The 3-day event began on June 17, 2019 in which 12 teams from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh participated,'' he said.

He said the department has expressed deep regrets over the incident and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.