Bandipora, July 18: The body of a 10-year-old boy who was swept away by the strong currents of the Kishanganga River in Gurez Valley was recovered on Saturday, 12 days after he went missing.

The deceased has been identified as Babar Bashir, a resident of Tulail in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

Babar was swept away while bathing near Sheikhpora in Tulail on July 6. Following the incident, police, SDRF personnel, civil administration officials and local volunteers launched an extensive search operation along the river to locate the missing child.

Officials said the body was spotted near the dam site in Kanzalwan on Saturday afternoon. Police and rescue teams immediately reached the spot and retrieved it from the river.

The body was shifted to Sub-District Hospital Dawar for medico-legal formalities. It will be handed over to the family after completion of the legal procedures for the last rites.

The incident had caused widespread concern in Gurez, with local residents and volunteers actively participating in the search operation for the past 12 days.