Don’t be a Bakhshi! Walking on frozen Dal Lake could be dangerous

Srinagar: Authorities in Srinagar on Thursday advised people not to walk on the frozen surface of water bodies, especially the Dal Lake, underlining that it could be dangerous.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, said that SDRF teams have been deployed to dissuade locals from taking to such risky adventures.

“Walking on frozen Dal Lake could be dangerous. Please avoid it. (SDRF teams deployed for safety),” he said in a tweet.

Walking on frozen #DalLake could be dangerous. Pl avoid it. (SDRF teams deployed for safety) pic.twitter.com/VjTZB81f2v

— Shahid Choudhary (@listenshahid) January 14, 2021

Replying to him, a renowned doctor said that almost 50 per cent of drowning victims are children less than nine years old playing on the ice. “The majority of victims drowning while in vehicles such as snowmobiles are young adults less than 24 years old,” the doctor added.

“Almost 50 per cent of drowning victims are children less than nine years old playing on the ice, while the majority of victims drowning while in vehicles, such as snowmobiles, are young adults less than 24 years old.”https://t.co/AtVMI9eUYA

— Dr Tariq Tramboo (@tariqtramboo) January 14, 2021

Last night in Srinagar was coldest after more than 25 years as mercury plummeted to minus 8.4°C in the summer capital. It follows minus 7.8°C on the night earlier as a result of which parts of the Dal Lake and other water bodies have frozen.

The freezing of the Dal Lake also refreshes memories of times when the former Prime Minister of erstwhile state Jammu and Kashmir Bakhshi Ghulam Muhammad reportedly drove his jeep on the frozen lake almost six decades ago. It is said that Bakshi drove the jeep for about 20 minutes near the Hazratbal coast of the Lake.

As per locals, the Dal Lake wore a festive look then as people from all corners of the Valley cherished walking over the frozen crust which some people say was very think.

In 2018, videos emerged in which some boys were playing cricket on the fringes of the water body following which the then Deputy Commissioner Srinagar issued an advisory asking people especially youth not to resort to such dangerous adventures. The police had underscored that it was not bravery to walk over the frozen parts of the lake as it could be fatal. (GNS)