CHITRAL: The intensive search operation launched by Rescue 1122 to recover two minor sisters, who drowned in the Chitral River at Gahiret village, ended on Sunday without success.

An official of Rescue 1122 told Dawn that multiple teams of expert swimmers were dispatched to scour the downstream areas, extending the search as far as the border village of Arandu.

However, the operation had to be suspended at dusk. It is scheduled to resume on Tuesday morning. The official said that the search mission was becoming increasingly difficult as rising temperatures in the valley triggered rapid melting of snow and glacier, significantly raising the river’s water level and accelerating its flow.

The two teenage sisters reportedly slipped and fell into the raging river on Sunday afternoon while attempting to fetch water.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026