Brothers drown saving each other

Bijbehara (Anantnag), Apr 13: What began as an ordinary morning in south Kashmir’s Bijbehara turned into a tragedy Monday when two brothers drowned in the Jhelum River while desperately attempting to save each other.

The victims were identified as Majid Malik, 29, and Shahid Malik, 25, sons of Bashir Ahmad Malik of Jablipora village. The incident occurred near the Padshahibagh area, where the brothers had taken their sheep to graze. “Majid slipped into the river while washing the animals and began struggling in the fast-moving water,” said local resident Ishfaq Ahmad.

He said, Shahid didn’t hesitate and jumped in to save his brother. “But the current was too strong, and both of them were swept away,” said Ahmad The river was swollen following days of incessant rain, contributing to the strong current. Police and residents rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) later joined the effort. The bodies were recovered hours later and taken for medico-legal procedures before being handed over to the family. The deaths sent shockwaves through the area, with large crowds gathering along the riverbank.

Family members, overcome with grief, rushed to the scene. “Oh my sons, where have you gone? I was waiting for you to come home for lunch,” their mother, Saida Begum, cried, as relatives and locals struggled to console her.

Majid, who was set to be married next month, had completed his postgraduate studies, while Shahid was a graduate. Despite their education, both brothers chose to support their father in the family’s sheep-rearing work.

“They never saw any work as small,” Ahmad said. “They were humble, grounded and hardworking.” Neighbours described the brothers as kind and dependable. “They were soft-spoken and always ready to help others,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a neighbour.

The brothers are survived by their parents, a younger brother and three sisters, one of whom is married.

By evening, a pall of mourning had descended on Jablipora, where the loss of the two brothers bound in life and in death left an entire community grieving.

Large numbers of people participated in the funeral procession after which they were buried in the local graveyard amid tears and sobs.