Examiner Bureau | Kashtwar:
A tragic incident in the Mughal Maidan area of Kishtwar district on Sunday claimed the life of a four-month-old infant, while two women were rescued after slipping into a fast-flowing riverlet while crossing a makeshift wooden bridge.
According to reports, the women, along with the infant, were attempting to cross the stream using a temporary bridge made from a tree trunk when they lost balance and fell into the water. Locals and police teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation, successfully saving both women. However, the infant, identified as Mohammad Usman, son of Mohammad Ashraf, was swept away by the strong current. His body was later retrieved from the riverlet.
The incident sparked protests in the area, with residents staging demonstrations and raising slogans against the district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir government. Protesters alleged negligence and demanded immediate construction of a permanent bridge at the site.
Locals said that a previously existing bridge had been washed away in floods last year, forcing residents to rely on unsafe makeshift arrangements. They added that similar incidents have occurred in the past, posing a constant risk to commuters.
