A rescue operation in flood-hit southern Punjab turned into tragedy when a boat carrying evacuees capsized near Bahawalnagar, killing at least nine people, local authorities confirmed on Friday.
The incident occurred Thursday during relief efforts on the Sutlej River, which is currently experiencing its heaviest flooding in nearly forty years. The surging waters have already displaced more than 150,000 people in Bahawalnagar district alone.
Overloaded Vessel Sinks During Evacuation
Officials from the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the vessel involved had already transported 24 people to safety before overturning near Mamoonka Basti, Minchinabad Tehsil. Rescue teams managed to pull 15 survivors from the water.
According to local reports, the Rescue 1122 boat was designed to hold 15 passengers but was carrying 22 people and about 400 liters of milk in plastic containers when it sank. Among the victims were two young men, Adnan and Khizar, whose bodies were recovered the following day.
Other Fatalities Reported Across District
Separate drowning cases were recorded in Chishtian, where floodwaters claimed the lives of 38-year-old Muhammad Hussain and 12-year-old Muhammad Asad. Both bodies were later recovered.
Relief Work Complicated by Residents’ Reluctance
Rescue officials say relief operations remain slow and dangerous. Many families refuse to leave without their cattle and goats — often their only means of livelihood — forcing authorities to conduct difficult and sometimes contentious evacuations.
“Operations are extremely difficult because people are not cooperating,” the PDMA noted, pointing to both the human factor and unrelenting rains as major hurdles.
A Disaster on a Massive Scale
The Sutlej has inundated a 154-kilometre stretch through Bahawalnagar, swallowing up nearly 400 villages. Province-wide, more than 4,500 settlements have been submerged since late August, displacing over 4.4 million people. About 2.4 million have been evacuated so far.
The scale of destruction stretches beyond Punjab. Nationwide, nearly 950 people have died since late June, while tens of thousands of acres of farmland have been wiped out.
Survivors Question Authorities
Many survivors accuse authorities of negligence, arguing that flood protection measures were ignored despite repeated warnings. With thousands still stranded under open skies, the situation is rapidly evolving into a humanitarian crisis — one that exposes the fragility of disaster preparedness in flood-prone regions of Pakistan.
