Thousands gather to attend funeral prayers
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Amidst a somber atmosphere filled with tears and sobs, thousands of mourners gathered to offer funeral prayers for five individuals who tragically drowned after a boat capsized in the Gandabal area of Srinagar on Tuesday morning.
According to a Kashmir Despatch Correspondent, a joint funeral was held for a woman, her two sons, and two other locals in a ground in the Batwara locality in the summer capital of Srinagar.
The funeral was an emotional gathering, with people shedding tears and expressing their heartbreak.
Sajad, a local who attended the funeral prayers, tearfully told Kashmir Despatch that the incident was a tragedy for Kashmir, leaving people too grief-stricken to have lunch or dinner. He described it as a tragic event that has deeply affected everyone.
Meanwhile, the entire Batwara community is mourning the loss following the incident. Local residents expressed their grievances and blamed the lack of a bridge in the area for the tragic event.
“We have been promised a bridge repeatedly, but no steps have been taken to fulfill that promise. Today’s tragedy is a direct result of the absence of a bridge,” said the locals.
Saja, a relative of the deceased woman who, along with her two twin sons, became victims of the boat capsize, shared her anguish with Kashmir Despatch. Sitting in a corner of the house, her eyes red with tears, she said they lost everything and didn’t know whom to blame or question anymore.
Meanwhile, the incident has shaken the entire Kashmir region, especially with the inclusion of minors in the list of deceased. “It’s a time of mourning in Kashmir,” expressed sorrowful locals.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
