Death toll from Kohat boat tragedy rises to 52

Operation completed after army divers find body of last missing seminary student, says ISPR

The number of students who died after their boat capsized in Kohat’s Tanda Dam has increased to 52, the military's media wing said on Friday.

"On the orders of Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army SSG and Corps of Engineers troops found the body of the last missing student," Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The ISPR said the operation continued for 48 hours until army divers found the last missing body.

"All deceased 52 drowned students and staff have been found," it added.

Read Dozens including seminary students dead as boat capsizes in Kohat's Tanda Dam

The ISPR further said that the army diving teams of SSG, army engineers and Rescue 1122 had also rescued five students alive from Tanda Dam.

The incident took place on Sunday when a passenger boat also carrying seminary students capsized in the dam.

Dozens of students from the seminary in village Mir Badshah Khel had reportedly come to the dam for a picnic. On the first trip, the boat successfully transported 15 students to the other side of the dam. However, the overloaded boat capsized in the middle of the dam the second time.

Kohat Deputy Commissioner Mahmood Aslam said venturing into the dam was closed by the authorities for recreational trips.