JALALPUR (Kashmir English): At least six individuals, including children and a woman, died when a boat overturned while picking up flood-stricken people in Jalalpur, Punjab.
The boat overturned in the Chenab River while conducting a rescue operation, resulting in the death of six people, according to a rescue official.
The boat, which had 20 people, turned upside down in the floodwater during the shifting of the affected individuals to a safe location.
The rescuers were able to save some of them, but four children and a woman perished.
The victims were two infants, one of whom was only 3 months old and the other 6 months old. The deceased have been identified as 3-year-old Mahnoor, 6-year-old Fatima, and 7-year-old Amir, all of whom died in the boat sinking incident.
More than 20 were on board the boat, with several being evacuated to a safe place. Ongoing rescue efforts continue to search for the remaining missing persons.
Earlier, according to a flood warning issued by the Punjab PDMA, flash flooding is anticipated in nullahs in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, and the Chenab River will see extremely high flood levels, especially at Panjnad.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms were also predicted for Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Multan, DG Khan, and Bahawalpur.
The PDMA issued instructions to activate early-warning and flood monitoring systems and disseminate evacuation plans over social media.
Moreover, the National Emergency Operations Center of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an alert of thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain in various districts of South Punjab.
According to the NDMA, intermittent rain and stormy winds are likely to continue in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Ahmedpur, Liaquatpur, Zahir Pir, Rajanpur, Khanpur, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sadiqabad during the next 24 to 48 hours.
The NDMA has warned that heavy rain is likely to cause overflowing of mountain rivers, landslides, and flooding in urban and low-lying areas.
