Srinagar, June 23:Seven tourists and two families were rescued when a deluxe houseboat capsized in the Dal Lake here on Thursday.
The houseboat “Kolhai” sank earlier in the day along with seven tourists and two families on board.
The owner Mohammad Yousuf and other members quickly evacuated the tourists and shifted them to the shore following which the other family members were also rescued.
The Kashmir Valley received heavy rainfall over the past few days leading to rise in water level in streams, lakes and rivers that may have caused the houseboat to sink, locals said.
The owner of the houseboat said that their houseboat is old and needs necessary repairs for which they have time and again requested the authorities for permission.
The Jammu and Kashmir government Administration Council on June 12 approved the proposal of the Tourism Department to provide subsidized timber for repairs and maintenance of houseboats and taxi shikaras.
He alleged that had the government allowed them to repair the houseboat earlier, this incident would have been avoided.
“We are now homeless, as the houseboat has been completely damage. We appeal to the authorities to provide compensation, besides permission to repair our houseboat,” Yousuf said.
