KASUR: Rescue divers on Wednesday fished out the bodies of two of the four siblings who were feared drowned in the Ravi as the boat carrying them capsized near Jag Da Chak in Nankana Sahib on Sunday.

The bodies were identified as those of Noor Fatima, 12, and Arsalan, 5. Search operation of the rescue teams was in progress for the recovery of Jawad, 9 and Ayan, 6.

Missing children’s father Muhammad Mumtaz, a resident of Phoolnagar, is a driver in a private company.

On Sunday, eight members of a family were crossing the Ravi on a boat to see their relatives across the river. As the boat reached the middle of the river, water started entering it due to a hole in the bottom. The boat riders jumped into the river. Four were rescued while the other four were feared drowned.

The district administration and rescue teams from Lahore, Kasur, Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura set up camps along the riverside.

The Mangatwala police on Wednesday handed over the bodies to the bereaved family after legal formalities.

Some of the family members are staying at the camps hoping to find any clue to the children.

Deputy Commissioner Zahid Pervez Warraich said the rescue teams and administration were leaving no stone unturned to find out the missing children. He said the teams would stay in the camps till the missing siblings were traced.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2022