Dir Tourism directs Shikara wallas for strict compliance of safety measures

SRINAGAR, JULY 10: Department of tourism Kashmir distributed hundreds of the Life Buoy Rescue Tube to the operational shikara wallas in order to provide them safety equipment for any eventuality.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah handed over these tubes to the registered shikara wallas who were directed to keep them fixed to their shikaras every time.
The department took this initiative in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, which provided the funds for the procurement of the life Buoy Rescue Tubes.
While distributing these tubes, the Director Tourism Kashmir strictly instructed the Shiakra owners to keep them tied to their boats for the safety of the passengers during any incident.
Director Tourism Kashmir said it was imperative for the shikara walls and other boatmen to have life saving safety equipment readily available so that passengers can be rescued during any eventuality.
He said during devastating 2014 floods, it was noticed that there was an acute dearth of such equipment and the recent flood scare also mandated that every shikra owner should have these equipment with them.
“We felt if mandatory to equip shikara wallas with these rescue equipment as at times the weather turns ugly as a result the shikaras can capsize. To address this issue, the department which is registering authority distributed these tubes among all shikara wallas to avoid any mishap and also ensure safety of passengers and tourists who most of the time are not swimmers,” said Shah.
He said in past instances also tourists had to be rescued from such mishaps.
The department distributed the tubes to the Shiakra owners moored at all Ghats at boulevard, Dalgate, at Manasbal and Nigeen Lakes
The department will also be distributing these rescue tubes to more shikara owners at other places in coming days.