Infant dies, two women rescued after fall from makeshift Bridge in Kishtwar

Ramban, April 19: A four-month-old infant died while two women were rescued after they slipped into a fast-flowing riverlet while crossing a makeshift wooden bridge in Mughal Maidan area of Kishtwar district on Sunday.

According to reports and locals, the women along with the infant were attempting to cross the riverlet using a temporary bridge made from a large tree trunk when they lost balance and fell into the water.

Soon after the incident, locals and police teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Both women were safely rescued. 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 triggered protests in the area, with residents staging a demonstration and demanding immediate construction of a permanent bridge. Protesters raised slogans against the district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir government, alleging negligence.

Locals said that a bridge at the location had been washed away in floods last year, forcing people to rely on unsafe makeshift arrangements. They added that similar incidents have occurred in the past due to the absence of a proper bridge, posing a constant risk to commuters.

Locals are demanding suitable compensation in favour of family who lost life of their child and construction of Brige in the aeea. 

Meanwhile PDP leader advocate Sheikh Nasir expressed grief over the incident and alleged that the infant lost his life due to the negligence of the administration. 

Officials have not yet issued any statement regarding the construction of a new bridge. 

Further details are awaited.