Body of youth recovered after Shikara capsizes in Dal Lake

SRINAGAR — The body of a 24-year-old youth who went missing after a shikara capsized in Dal Lake on Friday evening was recovered on Saturday morning, officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Rafeeq Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Jogi Lanker, Rainawari.

According to officials, the boat he was in, along with another person, overturned amid strong gusty winds on Friday evening. While the other occupant was rescued shortly after the incident, Chopan went missing.

Rescue operations were launched immediately, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local volunteers searching the lake. However, the operation was suspended overnight and resumed early Saturday morning.

Officials said personnel from SDRF’s Quick Response Team (QRT) based at Nehru Park retrieved the body from the waters near Duck Park.

The incident occurred during a windstorm accompanied by rain that disrupted normal life in Srinagar on Friday evening, uprooting trees and causing damage in several areas.