MUZAFFARABAD: A young local tourist drowned in a plunge pool at Chham waterfall in Jhelum valley district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday, leaving his companions and other visitors in shock.

Ali Qamar Naqvi, 18, a resident of Bela Noor Shah neighbourhood in Muzaffarabad, lost his life around 2:30pm while picnicking with friends at the famous and breathtakingly beautiful tourist spot located approximately 62 kilometers southeast of Muzaffarabad, near the Line of Control, witnesses said.

Chham waterfall cascades from a significant height into a deep plunge pool, which most visitors avoid approaching owing to safety concerns.

However, Mr Naqvi overlooked the danger and moved into the deep waterfall basin where he lost balance and drowned in the absence of any trained rescuer stationed at the spot.

According to witnesses, official and private rescuers arrived at the scene from district headquarters Hattian Bala after around one and a half hours and recovered his body.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2024