Protests Erupt After 12-Year-Old Girl Drowns in Roadside Ditch

A 12-year-old girl named Aroshi tragically drowned after slipping into a roadside ditch in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. Villagers protested, blocking the highway, demanding safety measures, compensation, and FIR against the construction company. Officials assured a probe and lifted the roadblock after an hour.

A 12-year-old girl, Aroshi, tragically drowned after slipping into a roadside ditch in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Sunday, officials reported.

The incident occurred when Aroshi accidentally fell into a water storage tank constructed by a private road construction company along the Jammu-Pathankot highway. This afternoon's tragedy triggered a protest by local villagers.

Angered by the lack of safety measures, villagers blocked the highway, demanding accountability from the construction company and registration of an FIR for the minor's death. They also sought compensation for Aroshi's bereaved family.

Highway blockage was lifted after an hour following assurances from senior civil and police officials that a thorough investigation would be conducted and those found negligent would be prosecuted according to the law.