A 55-year-old shikarawala (boatman) drowned in river Jhelum here while trying to save tourists who had hired his boat for sightseeing, police said today.
"Ghulam Mohammad Guroo, a resident of Rajbagh locality of the city, drowned while trying to save his tourist customers after his shikara capsized in river Jhelum near Fateh Kadal foot bridge," a police officer said today.
He said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening and so far the rescuers were not able to retrieve the body of the boatman from the river.
"The Shikarawala was saving the tourists and their luggage with the help of another motor boat but unfortunately drowned in the river. All the tourists were rescued," he said.
The officer said three domestic tourists were on a sightseeing trip in the Guroo's shikara when it capsized.
Without caring for his life, Guroo immediately jumped into the water and managed to take the tourists and their belongings to safety with the help of another passing boat, he said.
However, he drowned while returning to the banks of the river, the officer said.
He said a group of Navy divers today joined police and local rescuers to retrieve the body of the Guroo's body from the river.
"So far the success eluded the rescue parties but efforts are still on," the officer said.
