KOT ADDU: A devastating tragedy unfolded in Kot Addu after a loader rickshaw carrying members of a wedding procession fell into the Muzaffargarh Canal, leaving at least 12 people dead and three others missing. The incident has plunged several families into mourning. Children and women are among those who lost their lives in the accident. Rescue 1122 teams from Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh reached the site soon after receiving information about the incident. A search and rescue operation was launched in the canal. Rescuers used boats, scuba-diving equipment and other available resources to search for the victims. Several bodies were recovered during the operation, bringing the death toll to 12. Three people remain missing. Rescue officials said divers are continuing to search different sections of the canal. Rescue boats are also being used to cover wider areas. According to a list provided by Rescue 1122, those who died included 14-year-old Dalaur, seven-year-old Muneeb, 58-year-old Sakina Bibi, 15-year-old Sameera Bibi, nine-year-old Raju, seven-year-old Muhammad Sibtain, 11-year-old Zareef, 35-year-old Iqbal Bibi, 13-year-old Kaleemullah, 12-year-old Muhammad Jalal, five-year-old Muhammad Ali and Muhammad Saeem. The large number of children among the victims has added to the grief surrounding the tragedy. Families who had set out to attend a wedding were suddenly confronted with an unimaginable loss. Homes that were preparing for celebrations are now filled with mourning. The families of the three missing people are facing severe distress. Relatives have gathered near the site and are waiting for information about their loved ones. Minute Mirror observed that Bashir Mashori, an elderly uncle and relative of the affected family, was deeply grieved over the situation. As the senior family member, Mashori expressed profound sorrow and called for assistance for the victim’s family during this difficult time. Residents have expressed concern over the scale of the tragedy and called for a coordinated rescue effort involving all relevant departments. Local residents and affected families have urged the Punjab government to take immediate notice of the incident and ensure that every available resource is used to locate the missing people. They have called for additional divers, modern search equipment and more rescue resources to be sent to the site. Residents have also demanded the involvement of the police, district administration, irrigation authorities, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and other relevant departments in the search operation. They said a tragedy involving the loss of 12 lives requires a coordinated response beyond routine district-level efforts. The affected families have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and senior provincial officials to ensure that the search for the three missing people continues without interruption. They have also called for an investigation into the circumstances that led to the rickshaw falling into the canal. The families and residents said determining the cause of the accident is essential to prevent similar incidents in the future. Instead of helping the victims, some people were seen making videos and TikTok content at the scene. Such behaviour has drawn criticism and was described as deeply shameful and insensitive toward those affected. Rescue 1122 teams continue to search different sections of the Muzaffargarh Canal using divers, boats and other available equipment.
