Two boat capsized in Dal Lake near Duck Park on Friday afternoon, after which authorities launched a rescue operation that was halted late in the evening due to poor visibility and fading light.
While four persons were rescued earlier in the day, efforts to locate the second individual have so far been unsuccessful. The rescue teams plan to resume their search with the first light on Saturday morning.
Officials said that the incident occurred during gusty winds when two fishermen in the lake were caught off guard. Their boat was overwhelmed by the sudden weather change and capsized near Duck Park.
“The two fishermen jumped into the water in an attempt to save themselves. One of them, identified as Abdul Majeed Khosa, son of Mohammad Sultan Khosa from Rainawari, Srinagar, was rescued immediately. Despite continuous efforts, the second person, Taufeeq Ahmad Chopan (24), son of Ghulam Mohammad Chopan, a resident of Chopan Mohalla, Rainawari remains missing,” an official said.
The rescue operation involved teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) along with divers and rescue boats deployed to thoroughly scan the area. However, as darkness set in, the operation was suspended due to limited underwater visibility and poor lighting conditions.
An SDRF official said that despite extensive search efforts using specialised equipment, there were no signs of the missing person.
“The rescue teams will resume the search at first light tomorrow (Saturday) morning to ensure all efforts are exhausted in locating the individual,” the official said.