Four minors missing after boat capsizes

Divers from Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Kasur taking part in rescue operation

NANKANA SAHIB:

Four children were missing when a passenger boat carrying eight people capsized in the Ravi near Nankana Sahib on Sunday.

A rescue team managed to bring four of the occupants of the boat back to safety while an operation was underway to find the missing children.

Those who were rescued included two women and a two-and-a-half-year-old baby girl.

The wife of Mumtaz, his five children and a sister-in-law had travelled to Jag Da Chak from Chiniot. The five children with their mother and aunt boarded a passenger boat and began their journey.

However, just a while after sailing, the boat capsized. Fortunately for the survivors help was not too far away, and some locals who watched the accident jumped into the river and managed to bring the two sisters, a two-and-a-half-year-old baby girl and a sailor back to safety.

However, they could not find the remaining four children.

A rescue operation was underway to find them.

Teams comprising skilled divers from Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Kasur District were taking part in the rescue operation on the instructions of the chief minister of Punjab and under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner Zahid Pervez Warraich and District Police Officer Mansoor Aman.

A spokesman for the district administration said all the resources were being used to search for the missing children.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Hamza Shehbaz, has directed the officials to further expedite the rescue operation to find the missing children.

Hamza Shahbaz directed the officials to utilize all necessary resources in order to save the precious human lives and urged the departments concerned involved in providing relief activities to continue to their utmost relief and rescue efforts