Ajeeb Mahar and his family were crossing the canal to visit their relatives in Tarai village. There are villages on both sides of the canal and in order to make crossing from one bank to the other easier, people have put up a long steel rope across the width of the canal near Saleh Pat.
The rope is held secure by tying it around trees on both banks. People who wish to cross over first tie a rope to the metal chain and then pull their boats along.
When Mahar’s boat had reached halfway across the canal, both ropes broke and the boat capsized.
Ajeeb Mahar, his 18-year-old daughter Nasreen, Ali Jan Mahar, eight-year-old Asif, six-year-old Yakoob, 10-year-old Dadli and Gulzaran, Mai Nihalan, eight-year-old Dil Jan and Mai Kariman drowned.
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Amir Jan, Ajeeb’s son, and Mai Mithi Mirbahar, who were rowing the boat, managed to swim to safety. No bodies were recovered till the filing of this report but divers were busy trying to find them.
Amir was later admitted to a hospital.
The accident was confirmed by DCO Sukkur Inamullah Dharejo. He lamented the fact that just 500 feet away from where the accident happened there is a bridge connecting the banks of the canal. “The poor people could have easily gone across by using the bridge,” he said.
Nara Canal is the biggest of the seven canals that are connected to Sukkur Barrage, he said, adding that it is at least 50 feet deep. Moreover, the canal is also a habitat of crocodiles and more than 500 crocodiles are estimated to live in its waters.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2010.
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