Srinagar, Jan 19 (KNO): After tireless search operations and silent prayers from an entire community, the body of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, one of the victims of the 2024 Gandbal boat tragedy, was finally recovered from the Jhelum River on Monday.
The body brings closure to a heartbreaking story that has haunted people for nearly two years.
According to locals, the recovery was made this afternoon from the river stretch near the accident site at Gandbal, where Showkat had gone missing on that tragic April day.
“Maa ki dua ne aaj uske body wapas layi hai, (mother’s prayer brought his lifeless body back…)” said one tearful local, watching as residents gathered along the riverbank. “Every mother had prayed for her son,” he said.
The moment was heavy with emotion, as the sound of flowing water mixed with sobs, with family members, neighbours and rescue volunteers standing silently in remembrance.
A tragedy etched in memory
The Gandbal boat tragedy occurred on April 16, 2024, when an overcrowded wooden ferry, carrying schoolchildren and local commuters, capsized midstream in the swollen waters of the Jhelum River.
The accident claimed eight lives, including several young students and left an entire locality in mourning.
In the immediate aftermath, a large-scale rescue and recovery operation was launched, involving MARCOS (Marine Commandos), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local volunteers. Despite extensive underwater searches and repeated diving expeditions, Showkat’s body had remained untraced until today.
Residents recalled how day after day, teams scoured the river using sonar and underwater detection gear, while families kept vigil along the banks, hoping for a sign.
“Every time we heard a splash or a ripple, our hearts would race,” said Ghulam Rasool, a local who had volunteered in the rescue work. “But months passed, and hope was all we held on to.”
Closure after unending grief
On Monday, the locals and sand excavators spotted something near the river’s bend close to the original accident site. When the currents slowed and the object surfaced, they rushed in to recover it, confirming that it was indeed the missing Showkat.
Scenes of grief unfolded as news spread through Gandbal. Villagers gathered in silence, reciting verses and consoling Showkat’s family, who had waited nearly two years for this moment.
His body was taken for medico-legal formalities and will be handed over to relatives for the last rites, bringing long-awaited closure.
“He will come home, even if in silence,” whispered a relative, overcome with emotion.
KNO first to track developments
It may be recalled that Kashmir News Observer (KNO) was the first to report the discovery of suspected human remains during renewed search operations earlier this month, and today confirmed the full recovery of the missing victim’s body as well.
The Gandbal boat tragedy remains one of the deadliest river accidents in recent memory in Srinagar, a tragedy that reshaped conversations about river safety and public transport in the city.
A river that carries memories
As night fell on Gandbal, the Jhelum flowed quietly, and the same river that had taken so much now gave something back. For the families who lost their loved ones, it wasn’t just the recovery of a body, but a moment of peace after endless waiting.
“The river has finally spoken,” said an elderly resident, gazing at the waters. “And today, Gandbal can finally breathe again.”—(KNO)
