Tragic Accident at Mughal Maidan Kishtwar Leaves Infant Dead as Residents Demand Safer Infrastructure

KISHTWAR, April 19, 2026:- A wave of grief and anger has swept through the Mughal Maidan area of Kishtwar following a tragic accident that claimed the life of a four-month-old infant.

The incident occurred when two women and a child attempted to cross a fast-flowing section of the Chenab River using a makeshift wooden bridge constructed by local residents.

As they stepped onto the unstable structure, it gave way, plunging all three individuals into the freezing, turbulent waters. While alert locals rushed to the scene and successfully pulled the two women to safety, the infant, identified as Mohd Usman, son of Mohd Ashraf, was tragically swept away by the powerful current.

His body was recovered later following an intensive search operation.The heartbreak quickly turned into public outcry as senior officials from the district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, including SHO Chatroo Reshi Kumar, arrived at the site. In response to the tragedy, a large number of residents gathered to stage a protest on the Kishtwar–Sinthan Top road (NH-244), blocking the highway to voice their frustrations.

The community highlighted that the previous permanent bridge was washed away during last year’s devastating flash floods, forcing villagers to rely on hazardous temporary crossings.

Protesters are now demanding immediate government intervention to construct a secure, permanent bridge, arguing that administrative delays in infrastructure repair have directly led to this avoidable loss of life.