17 died as a boat capsized near Sher shah Multan,Spur breached to save Muzaffargarh

Lahore: A boat, carrying twenty five people was capsized near Sher shah Multan resulting 17 people died whereas one army jawan lost his life while saving the drowning people,a bridegroom was also among the ill fated people.

Army jawans rescued the other people ,CM Punjab has expressed sorrow and grief on this tragic incident and paid tribute to the martyred army jawan.

In Muzaffargarh, a spur has been breached by flood waters near Thatha Sialan. With the breach the flood water has made its way to Taliri Canal and is spreading in the surrounding areas of Moradabad and Thatha Sialan.

DCO Muzaffargarh has declared emergency in Taliri areas of the city and asked the residents to move to safer places.

Meanwhile the Chenab River is in high flood at Panjnad Headworks with water level of 358,335 cusecs.

According to the Flood Forecasting Centre Lahore, at present the water level is consistent at Panjnad and will increase further.

The Chenab River at Trimmu is in low flood with water inflow and outflow of 197,762 cusecs and receding. Palku Nullah is in medium flood where water level is 4,875 cusecs.

The River Ravi is in high flood at Sidhnai Headworks where inflow of water is 79,693 cusecs and outflow is 64,843 cusecs. The flood warning center says flood peak of 6-7 lakh cusecs will reach Guddu Barrage from Monday to Wednesday.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has directed provincial administration and concerned district officers in the flood hit areas to remain alert and vigilant.They have been asked to remain present in the flood affected areas of their relevant districts.

The major rescue operations were conducted in Multan where 42 Rescue Boats have evacuated 9199 flood affectees so far. Likewise, major rescue operations are being conducted in Jhang; Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan and RY Khan, from where overall 48288 flood affected persons have been evacuated by Rescue 1122. While presiding over a meeting at Provincial Monitoring Cell in Rescue 1122 Headquarters on Sunday, DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer was briefed that overall 74,195 flood affectees have been rescued by Water Rescue Teams in all 26 flood-hit districts of Punjab. The meeting briefed that Rescue Teams have evacuated 5721 flood affectees from Mandi Bahauddin; 5205 from Hafizabad, 2521 from Chiniot, 2084 from Sargodha, 1939 from Sialkot, 1749 from Narowal and 757 from Nankana Saheb and others.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer was informed that a major operation was conducted at Multan where an attached double boat carrying 37 passengers of baraat from Muzaffargarh to Multan was capsized at 10:30 am. Overall 37 passengers were on board including 5 crew members; out of which 20 were rescued alive including 4 crew members. However, 17 died and dead bodies were also recovered including crew incharge and a 27-year-old groom. Emergency Services Multan conducted this operation. After having briefing, DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer left for Multan to supervise rescue operations in southern Punjab. The Disaster Response Force has already been deployed for backup support to the concerned districts.