Srinagar, Apr 17 (JKNS): A day after a tourist family’s shikara overturned in Dal Lake due to sudden bad weather, concerns are mounting over the absence of safety protocols and official response.
“It’s pure luck they made it out alive,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a shikara operator. “There was no system in place to stop rides in such weather. We’ve been raising this for years.”
Eyewitnesses said there were no life jackets or safety personnel present when the boat flipped. Local residents rushed to rescue the tourists, with no help from officials.
“Why can’t they stop shikara rides during storms or issue weather warnings?” asked Mehmooda Bano, a local resident. “Authorities only act when someone dies.”
Priyanka Sharma, a tourist from Delhi who was on the boat, said, “There were no jackets, no emergency support. We were lucky local boatmen saved us.”
Locals and tourism stakeholders have urged the administration to enforce mandatory safety rules before another tragedy occurs. (JKNS)
