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

A tragic accident in Pakistan's Kot Addu district claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including six minors, when a loader rickshaw carrying a wedding procession overturned and fell into the Muzaffargarh Canal on Monday night. The group was traveling from Basti Arain to Lomar Wala for a marriage ceremony.

According to reports, one of the three loader rickshaws carrying the wedding party lost control due to excessive speed near Sheikho Sugar Mills in Sanawan, subsequently plunging into the canal. Three individuals managed to escape the water on their own and alerted Rescue 1122, initiating a rescue operation. Local communities joined forces with rescue services to pull six people out alive and recover three bodies.

The search continued into Tuesday, with Kot Addu Rescue in-charge Osama Zeeshan confirming the recovery of nine more bodies from the canal, bringing the total death toll to 12. The operation remained ongoing to find any remaining missing individuals. Eight divers and 22 swimmers from Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh districts, supported by the local community, were involved in the extensive search effort.

Rescuers searched a 32-kilometer stretch of the canal, which is estimated to be 12-15 feet deep and 100-120 feet wide. The canal carries a significant water flow, irrigating a large agricultural area. The recovered bodies were found at varying distances from the accident site, indicating they were carried downstream. This incident follows a similar tragedy earlier this year in Punjab's Lodhran district, where a bus carrying a wedding procession overturned, resulting in four deaths and 28 injuries.

“

Nine more bodies had been recovered from the canal, taking the total toll to 12.