Two brothers drown in Jhelum in Bijbehara

By Younus Rashid
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14 Apr 2026

· Bodies retrieved after rescue operation

Anantnag, Apr 13: Two brothers drowned after slipping into the Jhelum River at Padshahibagh in Bijbehara area of Anantnag on Monday morning while washing sheep, officials said.

After receiving information about the drowning, locals, police and SDRF rushed to the spot to trace the whereabouts of the two persons near Padshahibagh bridge.

An official from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Anantnag said the department received information about the incident at around 10 a.m. “The rescue team reached the spot immediately and, after nearly one and a half hours of operation, retrieved both bodies,” he said.

The deceased have been identified as Shahid Ahmad Malik and Majid Ahmad Malik, sons of Bashir Ahmad Malik, residents of Jablipora, Anantnag.

MLA Bijbehara Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, who had reached the spot, told reporters that it was a tragic incident and that the young men had been working when they slipped and fell into the water.

He said he had appealed to the concerned police officials, the administration and SDRF teams, who were on the job. He added that the families were waiting at the site in deep distress and the atmosphere was filled with grief.

In a statement posted on X, SDRF Kashmir said the incident occurred when the two brothers were washing sheep on the bank of the river. Officials said the recent rainfall has led to a rise in water levels in rivers and streams, increasing the risk of such incidents.

Authorities have urged people to stay away from water bodies and advised parents to remain vigilant, especially during the summer season, to prevent such tragedies.