Bahawalpur: Elderly man drowns in canal over Rs1,000 swimming bet

An elderly man lost his life in Bahawalpur while attempting to cross a 70-kilometre-long canal by swimming over a bet for only Rs1,000.    

The tragic incident unfolded near Uch Sharif, where a 66-year-old retired railway employee drowned in the Abbasia Link Canal while attempting to win a Rs1,000 bet. 

The man, identified as Shabeer, was reportedly dared by residents to swim across the massive and deep canal, despite not being a trained swimmer.

According to Rescue 1122 sources, Shabeer accepted the challenge and jumped into the canal. Eyewitnesses told rescuers that as the elderly man began struggling in the water. Onlookers laughed and filmed the scene on their phones instead of offering any help.

Read: Elderly man brutally tortured in Bahawalpur, abuse shown live to son abroad

The video was later uploaded to social media, sparking widespread outrage.

The situation turned grim when Shabeer disappeared beneath the water. Only then did someone call Rescue 1122, but by the time the rescue team arrived, he had already drowned. 

The rescue team later recovered the body and handed it over to the grieving family.

The incident drew criticism on social media, with users condemning both the individuals who provoked the elderly man and those who stood by passively while he drowned. Many have called for the immediate arrest of those involved.

Despite public outcry, no action has yet been taken by the Uch Sharif police.

Watch: Punjab police cop assaults elderly man for crossing VIP route

In another incident, a man named Ali allegedly killed his sister-in-law, Pakeeza, and seriously injured his niece, Fatimah, in a fit of rage over a marriage proposal. 

The incident occurred in Vehari district when Ali, who wanted his niece to marry his relative, got into an argument with Pakeeza, who opposed the idea. The dispute escalated, and Ali attacked Pakeeza with an axe, killing her on the spot, and also injured Fatimah before fleeing.