7 houseboats, 6 Shikaras submerged at Dal Lake, Chinar Bagh

Srinagar, Feb 23: At least six houseboats in Dal Lake and one at Chinar Bagh were submerged on Wednesday after a fresh snowfall across Kashmir.

The official said six houseboats including HB New Simla, HB Honey Moon, HB Bangkok, HB Young Marmandie, HB Holly Wood and HB Kings Throne were submerged at Dal Lake.

They said a houseboat at Chinar Bagh belonging to Fayaz Ahmad Darma, son of Abdul Aziz Darma of Chinar Bagh was partially submerged.

Moreover, several Shikaras got submerged at the world-famous Dal Lake amid heavy snowfall in Srinagar in the early morning hours.

Reports said at least half a dozen Shikaras also submerged at Dal Lake due to heavy snowfall in Srinagar.

In the incident, no loss of life or injury has been reported, they said, adding the locals, as well as officials, are on job to dewater the Shikaras.

Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad toured Dal Lake areas here to oversee the damages caused to the houseboats and Shikaras due to overnight snowfall.

The Deputy Commissioner, who was accompanied by, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi visited Dal Lake areas via motorboat to inspect the houseboats and Shikaras, which sank due to snowfall during the intervening night of 22nd February.

On the occasion, the DC directed the Revenue officials to assess the damages and furnish the details at the earliest.

Asad assured the affected house-boat owners and Shikara was that all possible assistance will be extended to them from the Administration.