The gushing waters of Nallah Sindh, a major tributary of the Jhelum flowing through Ganderbal, continue to lure adventure seekers, tourists, and picnickers every summer. Yet each year the river claims lives, turning moments of thrill into irreversible tragedy. Known for its crystal-clear waters, white-water rafting stretches, and trout fishing points, Nallah Sindh flows from the glacial melt of Machoi and Thajwas before meeting the Jhelum at Shadipora. Popular spots like Wayil, Kullan, Sonamarg, and Kijpora see heavy rush from April to September. Data shows that over a dozen drowning deaths have been reported in the last three years, most of them involving youth taking selfies, slipping on mossy rocks, or attempting to cross the stream.
Many people who come from outside the district have no idea about the level and depth of the waters in Sindh. Over the years many human lives mostly young men have been consumed by the gushing waters of the nallah Sindh. This attractive water spot where people go to beat the heat is turning out to be a death traps. Accidental deaths due to drowning in waterbodies particularly nallah Sindh continue to be an issue of concern for everyone including the administration here. People, mostly young men, bathe in those attractive water pockets without knowing the water current or what danger awaits at the bottom of the waterbodies.
There is a need for an awareness campaign on deaths by drowning like the awareness drives conducted to combat road accident deaths. The responsibility of parents to advice their children to avoid such misadventures where they can loss their precious lives needs to be underlined. There is a long stretch of the nallah Sindh where people go for bathing or swimming and it is impossible for the local police or the local administration to deploy their men along the stretch. However the responsibility of the administration is to ensure safety measures are in place. In view of frequent loss of precious lives due to drowning incidents while bathing/swimming in Nallah Sindh and as a part of precautionary measure, the district administration Ganderbal need now to impose restrictions on swimming/bathing in Nallah Sindh & its tributaries in Ganderbal. However apart from the ban and regarding safety measures at tourist places and such spots the administration should make available all necessary life saving equipments the concerned police personal and local volunteers who have played a major part during such rescue operations, so that the human lives can be saved during such tragic incidents of drowning.
The administration should also erect warning signs at such places and fence the accident prone areas. The administration should also urge people to avoid going for any adventure in nallah sindh without any training, safety gears and expertise. SDRF and local police officials say the biggest risk factors are sudden rise in water level due to glacier melt, strong undercurrents, and lack of safety gear. “The river looks calm on the surface but the current beneath is deadly. One slip is enough. Nallah Sindh is beautiful, but respect its power. One moment of carelessness can turn an adventure into a tragedy.
Author is senior correspondent at Greater Kashmir.
