Punjab flood rescue turns tragic as 1122 boat capsizes, five dead

Punjab’s flood crisis deepened when a Rescue 1122 evacuation mission ended in tragedy after a boat capsized in the raging River Chenab, leaving five people dead, including four children and an elderly woman.

The incident occurred in Wachha Sandila village, where more than 20 flood victims were being ferried to safety.

In moments, the vessel overturned in the powerful currents, throwing passengers—mostly women and children—into the swollen river.

Authorities confirmed the deceased include 80-year-old Bakht Bibi, six-year-old Fatima, seven-year-old Amir, three-year-old Mahnoor, and two infants aged six and three months. Several survivors were rescued, while search operations for the missing continue under dangerous conditions.

Officials said the boat lost balance in the fierce floodwaters. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) chief Irfan Ali Kathia ordered strict adherence to safety protocols and warned rescue teams against overloading boats during evacuations.

The horrific accident has sparked public outrage, with grieving families and citizens questioning whether negligence and lapses in safety cost innocent lives amid Punjab’s devastating floods.