Three cops drown as boat capsizes in Indus River

Bodies of victims could not be recovered

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Three policemen drowned in Indus River while three others were rescued when their boat capsized during pre-flood training in Dera Ghazi Khan.

A police spokesperson said six policemen were riding a boat at Ghazi Ghat in Indus River where they were engaged in pre-flood swimming training. However, their boat capsized and they fell into the water.



As a result, Head Constable Aslam, Ali Hamza and Constable Taimur Nawaz drowned. Soon after the incident, rescue officials reached the spot and rescued the other three policemen and shifted them to Ghazi Teaching Hospital for treatment. They were identified as Ijaz, Bilal and Anis.

Doctors at the hospital said the condition of the injured was stable. Rescuers, however, continued search for the victims’ bodies. Multan District Emergency Officer Dr Kaleemullah said eight divers had been sent to Dera Ghazi Khan to join the search operation.



Meanwhile, Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Ahmad Ali Kamboh, RPO Rehmatullah Niazi, Deputy Commissioner Allah Rakha Anjum and DPO Ahmad Nawaz Cheema visited the site. The police officials were trying to ascertain the cause of the incident and investigation was underway.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2017.