Srinagar, Jan 11: Nearly two years after the tragic boat capsizing incident at Gandbal in Srinagar that claimed eight lives, fresh developments on Sunday have rekindled hope and speculation among local residents.
Locals collecting sand along the banks of the Jhelum River reported spotting what appeared to be human remains partially buried in the sand. According to residents, an object resembling a decomposed human foot was noticed, following which the police were immediately informed.
Eyewitnesses from the area said the remains appeared old and were lodged deep in the riverbank sediment. Soon after receiving the information, police teams rushed to the spot and initiated preliminary examination, though officials have not yet confirmed the identity or origin of the remains.
The discovery has revived speculation in the area that the remains could be linked to Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, a 40-year-old mason who went missing during the Gandbal boat tragedy on April 16, 2024. Despite extensive rescue and recovery operations conducted at the time by SDRF, NDRF and MARCOS teams, his body was never traced.
Authorities said further investigation is underway and efforts are being made to determine whether additional remains are present in the area. More details are awaited
