LAKKI MARWAT: The body of a seven-year-old boy was recovered from the Kurram River in the Chowki Jand area of Lakki Marwat district on Saturday.

Villagers said that Mohammad Yaseen drowned after going into deep waters while bathing.

They said that the local divers failed to recover the body, so the Rescue 1122 was called for help.

An official said that the rescue service immediately sent a team of well-equipped divers along with doctors and paramedics to the site, leading to the recovery of the body, which was handed over to the relatives.

Also in the day, several children were arrested in Lower Kohistan district for violating a ban on swimming in the River Indus.

Violators of ban on swimming in river, tributaries held in Mansehra

“We have banned swimming in and approaching the Indus River, its tributaries and streams due to the rising water levels and increased drowning risks,so the ban violators, mostly children, were taken into custody,” additional assistant commissioner Adeel Hussain Shah told reporters.

He said the administration had also launched a campaign to inform people about the ban.

The official said the ban violators were released after their parents promised in writing that their children wouldn’t swim in the river and streams.

Also, a joint team of the police and district administration, led by additional commissioner (revenue) Awal Khan conducted surprise visits to the Dubair Khwar and took several swimmers into custody. The detainees were freed after being warned of strict action for defying the restriction again.

“We have also collected personal details of those who risk their lives by swimming in the swollen rivers and streams during the ongoing monsoon season,” he said.

Mr Shah said the district administration was strictly following the advisory issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority regarding monsoon rains and potential flooding.

Also, the police directed boatmen operating in the Indus River to adopt precautionary measures to ensure the safety of passengers following a surge in water levels.

“We have called you here to warn that the water level in the Indus River has risen significantly after the Tarbela Hydropower Project authorities opened spillways to manage reservoir levels, so you must ensure passenger safety under these conditions,” SHO Hassan Khan told boatmen in a meeting at the Darband police station.

The meeting was called in line with the orders of district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur, who said there would be a ban on ferrying passengers without life jackets.

Darband town, located on the bank of the Indus River, shares the Tarbela Dam. Ferries operating there frequently transport passengers to Haripur and the neighbouring Torghar district.

“We will take strict legal action if any passenger is found without a safety gear or life jacket,” warned the SHO.

The boatmen assured the police of full cooperation and said they would strictly follow the recommended safety measures.

Meanwhile, 18 people were rescued from the middle of the Indus River in Swabi early on Saturday.

The rescuers and Tarbela Dam officials had warned residents to stay away from the river after the spillways were opened to release the excessive water into the lake.

Rescue emergency officer Owais Babar said despite warnings by officials, youngsters went into the middle of the Indus River and got trapped.

“They called the rescue control room for help, saying they’re stuck in the middle of the river. We searched for them for a long time but finally got them and rescued them. These are eight people,” he said.

Another rescue officer Luqman Khansaid 13 people were rescued from the river in the Hund area in two operations.

Also in the day, divers rescued a man stuck in the Indus river in the Hund area.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2025