Picnicker drowns in Sutlej

VEHARI:

A youth who went to the Head Islam for picnic drowned in the Sutlej river, while his three friends were rescued.

According to witnesses, Ihtisham Tariq, Ahmed, Saqlain and Usman, all residents of Vehari had gone to Head Islam for picnic.

They were bathing at the riverbank to get relief from the hot weather when Ihtishams slipped and fell into the river. Usman, Ahmed and Saqlain also jumped into the river to rescue him. However, all four were swept away by the strong water flow.

Seeing them drowning, some local people jumped into the river and rescued Ahmed, Saqlain and Usman, while Ihtisham died.

The locals retrieved the body from the river and shifted him to the Hasilpur Civil Hospital.

Ihtisham, aged 20, was the son of a local trader, Tariq Ansari. The body was handed over to the heirs amidst and atmosphere of mourning.