DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A ‘loader’ rickshaw fell into the Chashma Right Bank Canal near Jhangi village here on Monday killing four members of a family.

The Rescue 1122 personnel rescued four family members, while 12 others are missing.

The police said the accident occurred as the driver lost control of the three-wheeler, which was transporting a family to Paroa tehsil for a wedding function.

They said around 20 people, including the driver, women and children, drowned in the canal.

Soon after the incident, the residents began the rescue operation. Later, the Rescue 1122 personnel showed up and began search for the people riding the rickshaw.

Accident occured as driver lost control of three-wheeler

They recovered four bodies, rescued four passengers, including the driver, a girl and two women, and kept searching for 12 others.

The bodies of Kulsoom Bibi, Sakina Bibi and Kausar Bibi were recovered, while the missing people included Kulsoom Bibi, Ramzan, Tayyab, Balqees Bibi, Sameera Bibi, Ajwa Bibi,

Matin Bibi, Zarina Bibi and Gulshan Bibi.

The Pakistan Army’s divers also reached the site and began search for drowned people.

SUGARCANE CRUSHING: The district administration has decided about the start of sugarcane crushing on Nov 15 and the purchase of sugarcane crop from growers at the official rate.

The decision was made during a meeting here on Monday regarding the sugarcane crushing season.

Deputy commissioner Arifullah Awan chaired the meeting, which discussed the start of the crushing season and other related issues.

The deputy commissioner said no compromise would be made on the rights of growers and the profiteering won’t be allowed.

The participants promised the implementation of the sugarcane rates fixed by the government.

The deputy commissioner directed the assistant commissioners to be in constant contact with the farmers and mills managements to resolve matters.

He also directed the food department to monitor areas to eliminate the role of middlemen in sugarcane sale and purchase.

He issued instructions regarding traffic saying an action plan should be prepared to maintain the flow of traffic during the sugarcane crushing season, while the use of adapters (lighting strip) on trolleys should be ensured to prevent accidents.

The mill owners promised the start of crushing season on Nov 15 on the instructions of the deputy commissioner.

The meeting was attended by officials of the house of agriculture, sugar mills administration, district administration, food department and other departments concerned.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2020