15 killed as rickshaw falls into canal in Pakistan

At least 15 people, including women and children from a single family, died after a three-wheeler carrying wedding guests fell into a canal in Pakistan's Punjab province, reportedly due to over speeding, authorities said on Wednesday, August 12.

The rickshaw was carrying 26 wedding guests when it plunged into the Muzaffargarh Canal on Tuesday in Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh district, about 350 km from Lahore.

Punjab Emergency Rescue 1122 said in a statement that three rickshaws were ferrying a wedding procession from one village to another when one of them lost control due to over speeding and fell into the canal.

"A rescue operation was launched after three people swam through the canal and alerted Rescue 1122. Subsequently, the local community, along with rescue officials, rescued eight people on Tuesday, August 11, and shifted them to a hospital," the rescue agency said.

Twelve bodies were recovered from the canal by Tuesday, August 11, police said. Three more bodies were recovered on Wednesday, August 12, taking the toll to 15, with the bodies found between 5 and 20 km from the site of the incident, the rescue agency said.

The canal is said to be 12-15 feet deep and 100-120 feet wide, with a water flow of between 2,500 and 4,000 cusecs.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed sorrow and grief over the incident and conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families.

(Inputs from PTI)