SARGODHA:Six minor girls — four sisters and two cousins — died of suffocation after becoming trapped inside a wheat storage drum while playing at Chak 12 Totiya Wali near Jinnah Colony, on the outskirts of Kot Momin.

The victims were identified as Samia (8), Amna (6), Sawaira Rani (4) and Dua Fatima (1), daughters of Yasir Ali; Maryam (7), daughter of Fiaz; and Sonia (6), daughter of Riaz. All were residents of the same village.

Reports said Yasir Ali’s family had recently cleaned an empty wheat storage drum and placed it in the courtyard. The six girls reportedly entered the drum while playing, and the lid accidentally closed, leading to their suffocation.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the district administration expressed condolences to the grieving families.

Kot Momin police collected forensic evidence from the scene to determine the cause of the incident.

Further investigation is underway.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2025