OKARA: Seven people drowned while 14 others were rescued when a boat capsized in the Sutlej here on Monday at Mehlo Sheikhuka.

Reports said a number of people riding a boat were going to a riverside village to condole the death of their relative when in the middle of the river the boat capsized as a result seven of them - five women, one man and a minor - drowned while 14 others - six women, as many men and two minors - were rescued. Most of the people belonged to Minchanabad, neighbouring Bahawalnagar district. Rescue 1122, police and respective departmental teams rushed to the spot.

Those rescued were shifted to the Haveli Lakkah Rural Health Centre for treatment from where all except one were discharged.

The drowned have been identified as Waziran Bibi, Kaniz, Khurshid, Younis, aged between 40 and 60 years, Maryia, (10), Irum (11) and 18-month-old Umme Eiman.

Deputy Commissioner Maryam Khan and MNA Mian Moeen Khan Wattoo also visited the spot.

Rescue work was under way till the filing of the report at 7pm as no information is available about the number of boat riders.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019