"We are at God's mercy," says grieving father, as loss of sole breadwinner leaves elderly parents, widow, and two children without support.
Gulmarg, Jan 09 (KNS): The family of a porter from Baramulla who died on duty has appealed to the Government of India for compensation, stating his death has devastated their sole means of survival.
Speaking with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Jamal-ud-Din Khatana, father of the deceased Ishfaq Ahmad Khatana (33) from Pachar, Chandoosa, made an emotional plea. “I appeal to the Government of India to look after my family. I have not only lost my son but my family’s hope of survival,” he said.
Khatana, who described himself as too old to work, added, “My son supported us through his labour. That support has now been taken from us. We are at God’s mercy.” Ishfaq is survived by his wife and two minor children. “I appeal to the Lieutenant Governor and the Government of India to provide us relief so that we can survive,” Khatana stated.
A local mourner, visiting the family home, expressed the community’s grief. “Words cannot describe this family’s situation. This is a shock not just for this household, but for the entire neighbourhood and village, as they were already living in acute, dire poverty,” he said. “That is why Ishfaq was working as a porter on the border to feed his family and help them survive. We hope the Defence Ministry will care for this family and not let them suffer.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”
A village elder told news agency KNS that a profound silence had fallen over the community. “There is a deep sorrow throughout the whole village. Ishfaq’s death is mourned by the entire area,” he said. “We appeal to the Defence Ministry to compensate the family, as they are very poor and vulnerable.” He noted that the deceased’s parents are both impoverished and frail.
Other villagers and relatives joined the appeal, urging the government to provide a job for Ishfaq’s brother so the “shattered family can survive.”
Notably, the bodies of two porters working with the Indian Army, who had slipped into a nallah (water channel) near the Upper Gulmarg area of Baramulla district, were recovered during an overnight search operation, officials said on Friday.
The deceased were identified as Layakat Ahmad Deedard (27), son of Ghulam Mohammad Deedard of Masjid Aagan, Chandoosa, and Ishfaq Ahmad Khatana (33), son of Jamal-ud-Din Khatana of Pachar, Chandoosa.
Officials stated the accident occurred on Thursday while the porters were en route to Anita Post, a forward area cut off in winter by heavy snowfall. While traversing a snow-covered, slippery stretch, both lost their balance and fell into the nallah. (KNS)