Atiya Mujeeb
PAHALGAM, 1 June: What began as a family outing in the picturesque town of Pahalgam ended in tragedy after a Srinagar man was swept away by the waters of the Lidder River while trying to save his son.
Mohammad Ashraf Mir, aged forty-two, a resident of Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar, had travelled to Pahalgam with his family for a day of leisure. The incident took place near the Langanbal area, where the family had stopped along the riverbank to enjoy the scenic surroundings.
According to officials, Mir’s son accidentally slipped into the fast-moving river while the family was taking photographs near the Kolahoi Green Hotel. On seeing his son in danger, Mir immediately entered the water in an attempt to rescue him.
While local residents and other people present at the spot succeeded in bringing the child to safety, Mir was caught in the strong current and swept downstream. Despite immediate efforts, he could not be located.
Search teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local authorities have been conducting extensive operations along the river since the incident. The search resumed on Monday as rescuers continued efforts to trace the missing man.
The incident has cast a shadow over the tourist destination and sparked an outpouring of sympathy, with many describing Mir’s actions as a reflection of a father’s instinctive determination to protect his child, even at great personal risk.
