"Please Help", read the placards held by the relatives of two teenage boys, who are believed to have been washed away in Jhelum here at Zaina Kadal in downtown Srinagar while they were trying to retrieve a cricket ball from the river.
The relatives of both the boys, who have been camping at the scene of the incident, staged a sit-in at the Press Enclave here after Friday prayers, and appealed to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to seek help of Navy divers and Army experts in recovering their bodies.
"We appeal to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to seek the services of Navy divers and Army on humanitarian grounds to recover the bodies of the two boys," a family member of one of the victims told reporters here.
The incident took place on Sunday when Mohammad Haseeb Bhat of Khanyar and Faizan Malik of Sonawar, both aged 16 years, slipped into the river while trying to retrieve the cricket ball.
"We know they are no more. They have met their fate but what we want from the government is to intensify the operation so that their bodies are retrieved as soon as possible so that we can give them a proper burial," a relative said.
Soon after the incident, police with the help of some locals started searching for the boys, but success has eluded them so far.
"The search operation for the bodies was going on at a very slow pace. We appeal the government to seek the services of the Army and Navy divers to end our nightmare," Mehak Ayaz, sister of one of the victims, said.
She said they are not in a position to engage private divers who are seeking "hefty amount" in joining the search.
We can't afford to pay private players and want the government to help us. This is our fervent appeal, she said.
During the sit-in, the relatives of the duo, carrying placards which read, "Please Help" and "Help Us to find Haseeb and Faizan", broke down repeatedly.
