Secretary emegency services Punjab Dr. Rizwan confirmed that rescue team save the lives of 12 persons however four children and a woman drowned to death.
Rescue and local people retrieved the bodies of the woman and children from the river. More than 25 people were being rescued and shifted to a safe place in the boat. The accident involved 70-year-old Bakht Sawai, 6-year-old Fatima, Mah Noor and Rehan.
The boat could not maintain its balance after reaching deep water and crashed, eyewitnesses said.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has predicted rainfall in South Punjab in the next 24 hours.
According to details, rain likely to hit in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar,Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Rajanpur, Khanpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
The NDMA spokesperson said that rain and strong winds will continue intermittently, adding that the rainy spells may lead the mountain rivers to overflow and landslides.
The NDMA has urged the citizens to stay cautious, as urban flooding and low-lying areas may be inundated in the urban areas.
The United States has dispatched relief assistance for flood-affected families in Pakistan, with the first flight carrying relief supplies arriving on Friday. A total of six flights will deliver aid under the US Army Central Command’s support initiative.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the US Chargé d’Affaires formally handed over the first batch of relief goods to Pakistani military authorities.
The supplies include tents, generators, and water extraction machines, which will be delivered to the Pakistan Army’s flood relief camps for onward distribution to displaced families.
ISPR noted that the government and people of Pakistan are grateful to the US government and armed forces for standing by the country during this humanitarian crisis.
Alongside the relief effort, a US delegation led by Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and the US Central Command’s Disaster Response Group visited the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).
Baker praised the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) modern disaster management model, calling it exemplary for the entire region. She also assured continued US support through technical experts and welfare organizations.
Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, representing US Central Command, appreciated NDMA’s proactive measures and reaffirmed a commitment to strengthen cooperation in joint mock exercises on disaster prevention.
The delegation also included Ivanna Vuwar, the US Department of State’s Disaster Expert for Asia, who, along with her team, discussed disaster preparedness and strategies to counter the negative impacts of climate change.
NDMA’s chairman briefed the delegation on the scope of NEOC’s capabilities and its advanced early warning systems, underlining Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its disaster response framework.