A boat carrying over 50 pilgrims belonging to Khairpur and Naushehro Feroze districts sank in Indus River near Dokri on Friday night in which so far five people have drowned as their bodies have been recovered.
They include Gulzar Channo, Hamid Shah, Daim Siyal, Sono Warer and others. The body of Gulzar Channo was already recovered on the first day. The people were coming to take part in the annual Urs of Pir Muhban Shah on the overloaded boat. When the news broke, residents of nearby villages reached the spot and started rescuing the people on self-help basis.
According to villagers, the Larkana commissioner and DIGP reached the spot very late and then they called the Navy’s divers from Sukkur. The villagers saved the lives of over 30 people and searched for others. Those who were rescued from water included Waqar, Waris, Hashim, Matlab Kalhoro, Zulfiqar, Allan, Allah Bux, Shahnawaz Channa, Abdul Rahman Channa and others.
Muhammad Essa Malah, owner of the boat, told the media that over 50 people were on the boat and 16 bikes were also loaded along with other luggage due to which he requested all of them to unload material as the boat had become overloaded but nobody listened to him. He said when he left the left bank of Indus River and was near the right bank, the boat started sinking due to overloading. He said 15 people have been rescued and search for others was ongoing when the darkness prevailed.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a press statement expressed his deep shock over the loss of lives and directed Sindh government to pay compensation. Sindh Minister Nisar Khuhro and others geared up their efforts on Saturday after high command instructions and reached the spot. He assured the affected people of government’s full support.