12 boats take part in search operation in Sutlej River

Four days after raft capsized, five remain missing

OKARA:

The search operation for the five people still missing in the River Sutlej continued for the fourth day on Sunday.

Four days ago, more than 50 people had been rafting from Bahawalnagar to Okara when the craft capsized.

The district administration had taken timely action and rescued 33 people.

Besides, bodies of nine people had been fished out.

However, five people are still missing.

According to rescue in charge Zafar Iqbal, search operation was continuing for the missing people.

He said that more than 12 boats were being employed in the rescue operation.

The bodies recovered so far were said to be those of Mansoor, Muhammad Faizan, Tasleem Bibi, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Ashraf, Jawaria, Ghulam Rasool and Zara Fatima.

On the special instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, his adviser, Mian Muhammad Moin Khan Wattoo, visited the incident site.

He was briefed on the raft incident by the commissioner of Sahiwal Division and the Deputy Commissioner of Okara, Zeeshan Hanif.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2023.