Abdul Basit

Bandipora, September 11: A pall of gloom descended on Bandipora town on Saturday morning when a youth died of cardiac arrest in Eidgah colony of Nebripora locality.

Youth identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Mir (25) son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Nebripora Bandipora died soon after complaining about severe pain in the chest at his home on Saturday morning. Ishfaq was immediately rushed to District Hospital Bandipora nearby, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

In-charge Medical superintendent, District Hospital Bandipora, Dr Parvaiz Sajjad said that he died of cardiac arrest and said his vitals were not functional when he was brought to the casualty, indicating he had already passed away.

As the news reached the town, hundreds of people, especially his friends, converged at his residence wailing and mourning the sudden death of their friend whom they affectionately call Ishu or Ishfaq Tiger for his sound body, good physique and attractive height. The youth's sudden death has left his family, classmates and friends in utter shock.

Mir completed his Post graduation degree in Chemistry in 2015 from Chandigarh and then started working part time in Rural BPO Bandipora as Customer Care Executive. He left the job during lockdown last year and started   preparing for civil services and other competitive exams, said Viqar Ahmad, a close friend of the deceased.

The deceased was son of former Executive Officer Bandipora Municipal Council Bandipora. The elder sister of the deceased-Shugufta also died of cardiac arrest in December last year. “They were yet to come to the terms of the sudden death of their daughter and this pall of gloom descended again on his parents,” Viqar Ahmad said while tears were rolling down his eyes.

Viqar remembered his fried ‘Ishu’ as a loving, kind hearted and a pious soul who never hurt anyone and was always helpful to the people. “He had a long list of friends that only depicts his character and personality,” he said.

A large number of people bid adieu to Ishfaq amid moist eyes and attended his Namaz-e-Jenazah. Rector Dar-ul-uloom Rahimya Molvi Rehmatullah Mir led the funeral prayers of the deceased and prayed for the patience of the bereaved family. He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at Jamia Qadeem Bandipora.

Meanwhile prominent social, political and religious personalities condoled the demise of the youth and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.