Six people, including four children, have died and 10 others are missing after a boat capsized in the swollen Jhelum river in Srinagar on Tuesday, officials said. The boat overturned after it crashed into a pillar of an under-construction bridge and the rope it used to cross the river snapped.
Water levels in the river swelled after heavy rains in the region over the last few days.
The boat was carrying over 20 people, mostly children, who were on their way to a school across the river. While 10 passengers have been rescued, 10 others are still missing.
"The boat crashed into a pillar midway through the river and overturned. We do not know why this bridge is still under-construction. It has been over 10 years since the work began," a local whose relatives were on the boat said.
Locals say if the bridge's construction was complete the crash could have been avoided as the boats were the most used mode of transport to cross the river.
The state disaster relief force has launched a rescue operation for the missing passengers. Senior officials of the administration and police are on the spot supervising rescue operations.
On Monday, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed after landslides triggered by rains. "NH-44 blocked due to Heavy landslide at Kishtwari Pather. People are advised to avoid journey," Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police said.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is the main road connecting the valley with the rest of the country.