LAHORE, May 17: A woman and a five-year-old girl drowned while 24 others were rescued by Pakistan Army troops when a pick-up skidded into Upper Bari Doab Canal while negotiating a turn near the Bedian Headworks.

According to a press release, a pick-up carrying 26 people plying between Katlohi village and Quresh Wala skidded into Upper Bari Doab Canal while negotiating a turn over a bridge near Bedian Headworks.

The personnel of the Pakistan Army present closer to the site of the accident along with local civilians immediately undertook a rescue operation. The troops after hectic efforts were able to save 24 precious lives, including eight men, eight women and eight children while bodies of a woman, Sufaidi Bibi and five-year-old Aneela could not be recovered till the filing of this report.

All individuals wounded in the accident were given necessary medical aid after evacuation.