Six people have been confirmed dead, including a 20-day-old infant girl, after a boat carrying 28 flood-affected residents capsized in the Jalalpur Pirwala area near Multan, according to 24NewsHD TV on Thursday.
The ill-fated boat was part of an official rescue operation evacuating residents from the flood-hit village of Durab Pur. The boat overturned during the evacuation, throwing all passengers into the water.
Rescue teams recovered five more bodies on Thursday afternoon, bringing the total confirmed death toll to six. Among them was the body of the infant girl, recovered earlier in the day.
According to the Chief Police Officer (CPO) of Multan, 19 people have been successfully rescued so far. The search operation continues for the remaining three individuals who are still missing.
Earlier on Wednesday, a similiter incident was reported in Alipur Tehsil in Muzaffargarh but there were no casualties.
Rescue personnel said the boat already had more than 10 people on board, and when another person tried to climb on the boat, it lost balance and overturned.
Meanwhile, the death toll in another boat accident which occurred in Taranda Muhammad Panah area of Rahimyar Khan has risen to eight.
Two more bodies have been recovered but the search operation was still going on to trace another missing person.
Three days ago a bot full of flood victims was overturned during rescue mission in Rahimyar Khan.
As many as 20 people were on the board and 12 were saved.
Private boats overcharging
Rescue agencies received reports of residents complaining that private boat operators were overcharging to take flood-stricken individuals to safety. “We heard several reports that individuals stranded in inundated areas were being exploited by private boat operators,” said a local official.
In response to this, the Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner directed that all boats in private hands should be taken under government control in order to help with the current rescue efforts.
“All boats available must now come under the official flood relief operation,” the Deputy Commissioner added. “Our main aim is to help as many people escape upstream areas as safely as possible without any exploitation.
Another flood-rescue boat capsizes in Bahawalnagar
In Bahawalnagar, a rescue boat carrying flood-affected individuals capsized in the area of Laleka Hatha, leaving two people missing while 18 were successfully rescued.
According to rescue sources, the boat, which was overloaded with 20 passengers, overturned due to excess weight. The missing individuals have been identified as Adnan Wains and Khizar Joiya, both believed to be young men.
Following the accident, the Assistant Commissioner, along with police and rescue teams, rushed to the site to lead the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Reporters: Ghulam Ali and Qasim Ali Sheikh