SIALKOT: Six people drowned in rivers and canals in Sialkot and Sheikhupura districts on Friday.

Three people died of heatstroke in Sialkot.

Hafiz Ibrar Ahmad, 25, and Hafiz Almas were taking a bath in the River Chenab near Shehbazpur village when they went into deep waters and drowned.

Rescuers were busy searching for the bodies till the filing of this report.

Asif, 35, of Jaju-Baddo Malhi village drowned in Marala-Ravi link canal while bathing there. Locals retrieved his body.

Three die of heatstroke

A religious seminary student, Huraira Yousaf, 12, lost his life in a water channel linked to a canal at Qila Kalarwala, Pasrur.

On the other hand, due to hot weather and prolonged power outages, a large number of people, including women and children, thronged the Chenab, River Tavi near Head Marala and Saidpur and canals, violating the official ban imposed by the district administration under Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code on bathing in rivers, canals and water channels.

Meanwhile, three people died of heatstroke in the district while several others fainted due to the hot and humid weather and were admitted to hospitals.

Muhammad Iqbal, 47, died of heatstroke in Sialkot city, Saeen Nazir, 65, in Sambrial and Sakeena Bibi, 52, in Pasrur.

SHEIKHUPURA: Two persons drowned while the third one was feared downed in the district.

Asif Ali, 22, was swept away in the current of BRB Canal near Kala Khatai. Divers are searching for him.

In the second incident, Mushtaq, 18, drowned in a canal near Lubanwala. His body was found after a two-hour search.

In the third incident, Zulfiqar, 12, drowned in the Upper Chenab Canal near Nazarlubana.

Police are looking into the matter.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2014