Death of Teen Sparks Demand for Fencing, Warning Signs Along Dachigam Stream
Srinagar, July 4, KNT: A day after a teenager drowned in the Dachigam stream at Harwan on the outskirts of Srinagar, locals have urged the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to immediately curb illegal mining in the water body and install warning signboards and protective fencing to prevent further loss of lives.
The demand comes in the wake of the death of Basit Ali Akhoon, a resident of Mir Behri Dal, who drowned while bathing in the stream on Friday.
Locals told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that rampant illegal extraction of sand and gravel from the stream has considerably increased its depth, creating deep pits and dangerous whirlpools that pose a serious risk to bathers.
“Once a person gets trapped in these whirlpools, it becomes almost impossible to come out,” said a local resident, alleging that illegal mining has altered the natural course and depth of the stream.
The locals said several young lives have been lost in the stream over the years and alleged that despite repeated tragedies, no effective safety measures have been put in place by the concerned authorities.
They urged the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to immediately stop illegal mining, erect protective fencing at vulnerable spots, install warning signboards and declare the accident-prone stretch of the Dachigam stream a prohibited zone to prevent people from entering the water.
Locals said timely intervention by the authorities could help avert similar tragedies in the future and protect young lives. [KNT]
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