Jammu: Two residents of Himachal Pradesh are feared dead after drowning in the Ranjit Sagar Dam lake in Basohli town of Jammu. Kashmirin Kathua district, police said on Tuesday.
Police sources said that someone saw Gagan Verma and Sahil Tandon, both aged about 19 years, from Dalhousie in Himachal, drowning in the lake at Purthu in Basohli and raised an alarm.
“Four friends from Dalhousie had come to Purthu to celebrate Sahil’s birthday. Happiness turned to tragedy when Sahil and his friend drowned while swimming in Gagan Lake,” said a source.
“A massive search operation was launched by Kathua police along with SDRF and local divers, which continued till late evening. Contractors of commercial boats in the lake as well as small boat owners of Purthu also voluntarily coordinated with the rescue teams,” said the Kathua SSP, adding that no casualties have been found so far, even as the operation also continues.
Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents the Kathua-Udhampur parliamentary constituency, tweeted: “Distressed to know about the unfortunate incident of drowning of two boys, Gagan Verma and Sahil Tandon, at Purthu, Basohli, Kathua district… I hope and pray for his safety. Boys.”
Police sources said that someone saw Gagan Verma and Sahil Tandon, both aged about 19 years, from Dalhousie in Himachal, drowning in the lake at Purthu in Basohli and raised an alarm.
“Four friends from Dalhousie had come to Purthu to celebrate Sahil’s birthday. Happiness turned to tragedy when Sahil and his friend drowned while swimming in Gagan Lake,” said a source.
“A massive search operation was launched by Kathua police along with SDRF and local divers, which continued till late evening. Contractors of commercial boats in the lake as well as small boat owners of Purthu also voluntarily coordinated with the rescue teams,” said the Kathua SSP, adding that no casualties have been found so far, even as the operation also continues.
Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents the Kathua-Udhampur parliamentary constituency, tweeted: “Distressed to know about the unfortunate incident of drowning of two boys, Gagan Verma and Sahil Tandon, at Purthu, Basohli, Kathua district… I hope and pray for his safety. Boys.”