Srinagar, Oct 22,: A massive search operation entered its third day on Wednesday to trace the body of a man who jumped into the river Jhelum from the Zainakadal area of Srinagar on Monday.
Officials said that the missing person, identified as Rafiq Ahmed Ahangar, son of Muhammad Jamal and a resident of Mujahid Manzil, Dalal Mohalla in Srinagar, had been working at a local bandsaw mill in the area. Moments before the incident, Rafiq reportedly told his employer that he would return in ten minutes. However, witnesses said he was later seen jumping into the river from the Zainakadal bridge.
Following the incident, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel immediately launched a rescue operation, joined by local volunteers who tried to assist in tracing the man. Despite continuous efforts since Monday afternoon, the body remained untraceable till late Wednesday morning.
“Search teams are using boats and divers to scan the river,” said an official involved in the rescue effort.
The motive behind Rafiq’s act remains unclear, though police have launched an inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the incident. [KNT]
