Kashmir’s Kaman Bridge Reopens After Six Years for a Tragic Exchange
Srinagar, March 22, 2025: The Kaman Bridge, a key structure dividing India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, was reopened on Saturday for the first time in six years under somber circumstances. The bridge, located in the Uri sector of Kashmir’s Baramulla district, became the site of a humanitarian exchange, as the bodies of two young individuals who drowned in the Jhelum River were returned to India.
On March 5, tragedy struck the villages of Basgran and Kamalkote as a 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman drowned in the Jhelum River. The Indian Army immediately launched a search operation, but the river’s powerful currents carried the bodies across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
The young man’s body was initially spotted near the Kaman Bridge on the Indian side but drifted to the Pakistani side before it could be retrieved. It was later recovered near Chinari, while the woman’s body was found the previous day in the same region.
In an act of humanitarian cooperation, Indian and Pakistani military authorities coordinated the return of the remains to Indian officials. This collaboration resulted in the temporary reopening of the Kaman Bridge. Family members, district officials, and military personnel from both countries were present during the solemn exchange.
“In a demonstration of humanitarian cooperation, the Indian and Pakistani armies coordinated efforts to recover the body,” the Indian Army stated.
Relatives of the deceased expressed their gratitude for the efforts of both the Indian and Pakistani authorities. Mohammed Rafi, a relative of the woman, shared his appreciation, saying, “Fifteen days ago, the children jumped into the river. Search operations were conducted, but the bodies drifted beyond the LoC. We are thankful to our Police and Army officers for retrieving them.”
This tragic incident and the reopening of the Kaman Bridge underscore the importance of cross-border collaboration on humanitarian grounds, even amidst challenging political circumstances.
