Four students drown in Neelum River

MUZAFFARABAD: A rescue operation has been launched by local divers to locate four students who drowned while swimming in the Neelum River in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident occurred in the Neelum Valley, where authorities had imposed restrictions on river swimming. However, local residents said that the ban has not been effectively enforced, leading to the unfortunate mishap.

According to locals, the students who drowned hailed from the Kel area in the Neelum Valley. “Two of the drowned students were in the 11th grade, while the other two were in the 12th grade and were not well-versed in swimming,” shared one resident.

The district administration had earlier enforced a prohibition on swimming in the Neelum River and had implemented Section 144.

A video circulating on social media depicts the daring efforts of local divers as they search for the missing students underwater. It was evident that the rescuers were not equipped with professional diving gear, underscoring the spontaneous nature of their response.

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In another video, a local diver was seen bringing a student to safety, having successfully retrieved him from the deep waters of the river.

The students who were currently missing and feared drowned include Yaser, son of Bashir, aged 17; Adeel Afzal, son of Muhammad Afzal, aged 17; Shahid Parvez, son of Parvez Iqbal, aged 19; and Basit Roshan, son of Roshan, aged 18, as per local sources.

This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement of swimming bans in the region and underscores the risks associated with recreational activities in potentially dangerous waters.

Efforts to locate and rescue the missing students continue amidst the challenging conditions of the Neelum River.