9 dead, dozens rescued as boat capsizes in South Punjab floods

MULTAN: Tragedy struck flood-hit Jalalpur Pirwala as two boats capsized within hours, killing at least nine people, including a four-year-old child, and leaving several missing.

In the Mohana Sandila area, a private boat carrying 28 desperate passengers capsized as families fled to escape rising waters. Survivors revealed that they had paid Rs 2,000 each after failing to get government relief aid.

Local villagers managed to rescue 19 passengers but eyewitnesses said nine drowned before help could reach them. Rescue teams arrived only after the accident, sparking anger among survivors.

Earlier that evening, another rescue boat carrying 20 people capsized on Khanbela Road. A 20-day-old baby girl was pulled from the river but could not survive, while the rest survived.

The nightmare did not stop there. Another boat capsized after being overloaded in Darabpur village of Alipur. Four passengers drowned in Ahmedpur Sharqia but swam to safety. And the death toll from a boat accident in Noorwala area of ​​Liaquatpur three days ago rose to eight after three more bodies were found.

So far, at least 10 people have died in flood-related boat disasters in southern Punjab. Officials admit that search operations are still ongoing, with locals leading the effort as government relief services lag behind.