Two young cadets drown after falling into dam

Students of Cadet College Sanghar drown in Chotiari Dam during a picnic.

HYDERABAD:

Two students of Cadet College Sanghar drowned in Chotiari Dam during a picnic on Thursday.

The college administration identified the students as Faisal Rehman and Izahrul Hassan. Both of them were in the first year and had joined the college in grade eight, three years ago.

Talking to The Express Tribune, vice-principal Rahat Masood Mirza said that 130 students were taken to the dam, 25 kilometres from Sanghar, for a picnic and were instructed that they were not allowed to swim. He denied that the college could be blamed for the deaths for not adopting necessary measures and said that they did not carry swimming kits and life jackets because swimming was not part of the tour.

The part of the dam from where the two cadets slipped into the water is said to be between 12 and 15 feet.

The local fishermen said that they were called in to look for the boys 15 to 20 minutes after the boys fell down. Mirza said, however, that they were pulled out within 10 minutes.

According to the medical superintendant of Civil Hospital, Sanghar, Dr Farooq Awan, the boys died before they were brought to the hospital. Later, their bodies were handed over to two lecturers from the college.

The families of the deceased could not be contacted for comments. Mirza said that bodies have been handed over to their families and they have been informed that their deaths were accidental.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2013.