At least 12 dead as loader rickshaw carrying wedding procession falls into canal in Kot Addu

Twelve people, including six young children, lost their lives after a loader rickshaw carrying a wedding procession plunged into the Muzaffargarh Canal on Monday night, according to reports released on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the Kot Addu district during a journey to Basti Arain from Lomar Wala. One rickshaw lost control due to excessive speed and crashed into the canal near Sheikho Sugar Mills in Sanawan. Rescue efforts commenced after three individuals managed to climb out on their own and alert Rescue 1122.

Subsequently, a combination of local residents and rescue teams, including eight divers and 22 swimmers, joined the rescue operation. So far, six survivors were pulled out, and three bodies were retrieved. As of Tuesday, the death toll had risen to 12, with additional bodies continuing to be recovered from various points along the 32km canal stretch.

The canal, ranging from 12-15 feet deep and 100-120 feet wide, flows at a rate of 2,500 to 4,000 cusecs and irrigates 800,000 acres in the Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh regions. This tragedy echoes a similar incident in Punjab's Lodhran district earlier this year, where a bus carrying a wedding procession crashed, resulting in four fatalities and 28 injuries.