Search for boat tragedy victims enters 2nd day
Additional swimmers and boats were called in to join the overnight rescue operation. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Seven members of two families were still missing on Saturday evening, while the body of a girl who drowned after a boat carrying 12 people capsized in Chenab river a day earlier was found.
The body of 18-year-old Amna was retrieved and a 22-year-old man and two brothers were rescued after the accident on Friday evening in the Bhavana area of Chiniot.
The district police officer (DPO) ordered strict action against boating in the river despite a ban imposed by the authorities. The 12 members of two families had gone for boating on the third day of Eidul Azha but their boat capsized in the waves.
As soon as the incident was reported, rescue teams reached the spot and rescued three people, including two children. An operation to rescue eight people, including three women and three children, continued throughout the night and te body of the teenage girl was found after 10 hours of efforts.
A search operation was under way till the evening for the seven missing people. According to the police, boating in the river is prohibited but the families were taken on a boat ride.
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The district police spokesperson said DPO Bilal Zafar Sheikh had directed the SP investigation to investigate the incident and submit a report.
The people missing after the accident include a woman, her daughter and two sons along with the 18-year-old wife of the rescued man, Samar. The incident occurred at 7:55pm.
The rescued people include the 40-year-old oarsman Aslam, resident of Tahli Mangini, 12-year-old Shahid and 14-year-old Mohammad Khan, sons of Bashir, residents of Bhaiyawala, Lalian, 22-year-old Samar Abbas, son of Manzoor Hussain, resident of the Chiniot Sabzi Mandi area and 12-year-old Huzaifa, son of Riaz, resident of Wala Vanuka, Lalian.
The missing people include six-year-old Zain Abbas, son of Riaz, resident of Wala Vanuka, eight-year-old Rafia, daughter of Riaz, 18-year-old Mazhar, son of Riaz, six-year-old Ali Hassan, resident of Kluka Bhuana, 30-year-old Sarfraz, son of Imam Bakhsh, 18-year-old Amna, daughter of Bashir, resident of Bhaiyawala, 40-year-old Kaniz Bibi, wife of Riaz, resident of Wala Vanuka and 18-year-old Rabia Bibi, wife of Samar, resident of Sabzi Mandi area.
The girl who died has been identified as 18-year-old Amna, daughter of Bashir. Rescue workers were searching for four members of a family, including Kaniz, her daughter Rafia and sons Mazhar and Zain Abbas.
A spokesman for the rescue service told The Express Tribune that rescue teams of Bhawana rushed to the spot as soon as the incident was report. Later, expert swimmers from Chiniot also reached the spot and the rescue operation continued throughout the night.
According to police spokesman Sub-Inspector Mohsin Hassan Khan, DPO Bilal Zafar said strict action would be taken against those responsible.
Due to the threat of floods, the administration had earlier imposed a ban on boating in the river, but it was ignored by the boat operators.
A local social activist, Dr Khalid Yaseen, said there should be a complete ban on boating in the Chenab to avoid any loss of life.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2021.