Islamabad, July 2: A tragic incident occurred in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when a boat filled with tourists capsized on Saifullah Lake, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, with one person still missing.
A district police officer reported that the boat, carrying eight members of the same family, overturned in the Sundar Kalam area of Swat district on Wednesday.
According to a report from the news agency Xinhua, the bodies of seven individuals have been recovered, while rescue teams, police officials, and local volunteers continue to search for the missing person.
Local media cited officials stating that earlier on Tuesday, at least 14 children lost their lives, and several others were injured when the roof of a private tuition academy collapsed in Lahore’s Kaina area.
Confirming the death toll, Punjab’s Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir stated that around 20 individuals were trapped under the debris, including the 14 children who were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital.
After the search and rescue operation concluded, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed reported that a female teacher and eight children were admitted to Lahore General Hospital (LGH) with various injuries, with five children in critical condition.
Pakistani media outlet Dawn quoted Ahmed stating, “The children were very young, and two rooms were in use. The roofs collapsed, trapping the children.”
The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan expressed deep concern over the tragic roof collapse incident. The HRC accused authorities of gross negligence for failing to inspect the construction quality of such academies and buildings in residential areas, which led to the loss of innocent lives.
Reports indicate that roof and building collapses are a recurring issue in Pakistan, often attributed to weak safety regulations and substandard construction materials, resulting in frequent tragic incidents.
Earlier on Monday, in the Ali Pur Tehsil of Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district, two minor sisters died when the walls of their home collapsed, injuring their cousin.
According to Dawn, in a separate incident earlier this month, three family members died when the roof of an under-construction room collapsed in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala Tehsil.
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