A boat carrying at least 17 people capsized in the Chenab River at Head Panjnad near Muzzafargarh on Tuesday. According to the local administration, the boat capsized due to excessive load, adding that a large number of people gathered at Head Panjnad for picnic on Eid’s second day and every one wanted to board the boat. Four people were rescued while a search operation was underway for others who went missing in the water. Those rescued included two children, a woman and man.
According to a private TV channel, section 144 had been imposed at Head Panjad which strictly prohibited boating in the river but the restriction was violated, as a large number of crowded of picnicker s swarmed the site to take boat rides. Despite the imposition of section 144, no policeman had been deployed there, barring the people from boat riding.
