Search operations have been significantly ramped up in the Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir in an effort to locate the bodies of a man and a woman who are believed to have drowned in the Chenab River in two distinct incidents. Officials confirmed on Sunday that the intensified efforts are underway to trace the individuals who were lost in separate events occurring over the past week.
The first incident involved a 21-year-old woman who reportedly jumped into the Chenab River in Doda on Saturday afternoon. The second case concerns a 20-year-old man who slipped into the fast-flowing waters of the Chenab in Ramban on September 1. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the circumstances surrounding both events are being thoroughly investigated by local authorities and rescue teams.
The woman, identified as Payal Devi, is said by her family to have been suffering from anxiety and depression. She is reported to have jumped from the Shiva Dal bridge, near Prem Nagar, into the river. A video, purportedly captured by bystanders who attempted to dissuade her, has circulated widely on social media platforms. In the footage, the woman can be heard saying “bye-bye” before entering the water. The precise reasons that led her to take this drastic action could not be immediately determined by officials.
To aid in the search for her body, additional teams comprising police personnel and members of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have joined local volunteers. These combined rescue teams have been conducting an extensive search along the riverbanks and downstream sections of the Chenab. Despite their efforts, no significant breakthrough has been reported thus far. According to the woman’s father, Krishan Lal, she had attended a local fair and later informed him via telephone that she intended to see a doctor due to feeling unwell. Following reports that the doctor was unavailable, she was reportedly on her way back when she seemingly boarded a motorcycle. Her father recounted receiving a call from an individual accompanying his daughter, who informed him that she had run towards the river. Lal recalled his daughter’s last words to him over the phone as, “Nobody should come near me.” He further stated that he repeatedly questioned her about what had happened and whether anyone had mistreated her. His daughter, however, responded, “No, papa. This is my own life. My heart tells me that I should go this way.” She then bid him farewell, saying, “Bye-bye, papa,” before the call concluded.
Concurrently, a multi-agency search and rescue operation is actively pursuing the recovery of Ravi Kumar, the 20-year-old man who fell into the Chenab River at Maitra in Ramban on September 1. The Ramban Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Alyas Khan, and Senior Superintendent of Police, Arun Gupta, visited the site of the incident to assess the ongoing search operation and the action plan being executed by the involved agencies. In light of the hazardous conditions, including strong water currents, experts have cautioned against the use of boats due to the inherent risks involved.
The search for Ravi Kumar is being conducted using specialized rescue equipment and by trained personnel who are adhering to all necessary safety protocols. In a measure to facilitate the rescue efforts, authorities at the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project have, following intervention from the deputy commissioner, restricted the water flow in the river. This action is intended to create a safer environment for the rescue teams to operate. The combined efforts of various agencies underscore the seriousness with which these incidents are being treated, with a focus on bringing closure to the families involved and ensuring the safety of the region’s waterways.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.