LAHORE: The irrigation department, on the directions of Kot Addu district administration, on Friday closed the Muzaffargarh Canal to facilitate the search for the three children who are feared to have drowned, after a loader rickshaw carrying them and others had plunged into the canal five days ago.

As many as 15 people, including children and women, lost their lives in the tragic incident. During the five-day operation, Rescue 1122 teams, district administration and local community recovered 12 bodies from the canal and handed these over to the families of the deceased persons. The three missing children – Shakir, Munib and Yasir – were not found so far.

Kot Addu Deputy Commissioner Barrister Bilal Saleem has been leading the search operation for the last five days. Because of the tragic incident, the DC has appealed to people to observe Independence Day in the district with simplicity.

The DC said that the search operation would not be suspended until recovery of the three children. He also directed the teams to include fields and small tributaries linked to the main canal in the search operation.

Meanwhile, the families of the missing children told a press conference that they were being helped by the district administration, Rescue 1122 and locals in the search for their loved ones.

As many as 89 rescuers, 45 swimmers, along with nine boats and as many ambulances, eight patrolling bikes and 40 irrigation department officials are taking part in the operation.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026