Nine Dead as Rescue Boat Capsizes During Punjab Flood Relief Operations
MULTAN: At least nine people lost their lives when a rescue boat overturned during flood relief operations in southern Punjab, officials confirmed on Friday. The tragedy occurred amid the worst flooding of the Sutlej River in 40 years, which has already submerged hundreds of villages and displaced more than 150,000 residents.
According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the incident took place on Thursday in a village near Multan. The rescue boat had successfully evacuated 24 people before capsizing. Fifteen survivors were later rescued from the water.
In Minchinabad Tehsil, a Rescue 1122 vessel sank near Mamoonka Basti. Authorities revealed that the boat, designed for 15 passengers, was carrying 22 people along with 400 litres of milk. Among the victims were two young men, Adnan and Khizar, whose bodies were recovered the following day.
Other Incidents Reported
Separate drowning cases were reported in Chishtian, where 38-year-old Muhammad Hussain and 12-year-old Muhammad Asad were swept away by floodwaters. Rescue teams later recovered their bodies.
Officials also highlighted challenges in ongoing operations, stating that many villagers were reluctant to evacuate without their livestock — including cattle and goats, which are their main livelihood. This reluctance has complicated rescue missions and delayed evacuations.
Scale of the Flood Crisis
The Sutlej River flood has devastated a 154-kilometre stretch in Bahawalnagar alone, submerging nearly 400 settlements and leaving around 150,000 people without shelter. Across Punjab, more than 4,500 villages have been submerged since late August, displacing over 4.4 million people. Of these, 2.4 million have been evacuated to safer areas.
Nationwide, since late June, floods have claimed at least 946 lives and destroyed large areas of farmland, raising fears of a food security crisis.
Survivors Raise Concerns
Many survivors have accused authorities of negligence, claiming preventive measures were not implemented despite repeated flood warnings. Thousands remain stranded under the open sky, awaiting urgent relief as the Sutlej River disaster deepens into a major humanitarian emergency.
