NAROWAL: Two friends drowned while bathing in Upper Chenab canal in Sialkot on Tuesday.

Muhammad Haroon (14) and Muhammad Omar (15), both residents of Gohadpur area, were class-VIII students at government high school.

They along with other classmates went to Upper Chenab canal to take a bath in the scorching heat.

Two dozen students of the school were bathing in the canal at Kambaranwala when Omar suddenly went into deep water and started drowning. Haroon tried to save his friend but both drowned.

Rescue 1122 rushed to the spot and recovered bodies after three-hour efforts. The bodies were handed over to families.

A few days ago, two friends of first year class also drowned in the Upper Chenab canal. Citizens have demanded that the Sialkot deputy commissioner immediately enforce section 144 and ban bathing in canals.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2022