Rescue boat capsizes on Chenab, four drown in Jalalpur Pirwala

At least four people drowned when a rescue boat capsized on the Chenab River on Saturday while evacuating flood-affected residents of Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan district, local officials said, as separate boat accidents and widespread flooding across Punjab have left authorities struggling to account for casualties. Multan district government spokesperson Wasim Yousuf said Rescue 1122 recovered the bodies of three children and a woman after the vessel struck a tree and overturned in strong currents. Rescue crews were continuing searches for one missing child, officials said.

Rescue 1122’s initial report said most of those aboard were women and children, the river depth at the scene reached 15 to 20 feet, and victims lost their balance as the boat was buffeted by fast-flowing water. Rescue 1122 Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer expressed grief and ordered an immediate incident report, while Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan extended condolences to the families. Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority Director General Irfan Kathia directed that injured people receive the best possible medical assistance and warned against overloading private and rescue boats during evacuations.