12 guests dead as wedding rickshaw falls into Kot Addu canal

The rickshaw was carrying 24 people when it reportedly lost control because of overspeeding and fell into the canal near Sheikho Sugar Mills in Sanawan. The passengers were returning to Basti Arain after attending a marriage ceremony in a nearby village.

Rescue operation continues

The rescue operation began after three people managed to get out of the canal and alerted Rescue 1122. Local residents and rescue workers later pulled six people out alive and recovered three bodies.

As the search continued, rescuers recovered nine more bodies, taking the death toll to 12, including six minors. Officials said the operation was still continuing to find anyone who may remain missing.

Eight divers and 22 swimmers from Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh were involved in the search. Local residents also joined the rescue effort as teams searched a 32-kilometre stretch of the canal.

Canal conditions make search difficult

Rescuers recovered bodies from locations 5, 7, 15 and 20 kilometres away from where the rickshaw fell. The canal is around 12 to 15 feet deep and 100 to 120 feet wide, with water flowing at between 2,500 and 4,000 cusecs.

The canal supplies irrigation water to around 800,000 acres in the Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh areas. Its depth, width and strong water flow have made the search more difficult for rescue teams.

Another wedding procession accident

The tragedy has also brought attention to previous accidents involving wedding processions in Punjab. Earlier this year, at least four people were killed and 28 others injured when a bus carrying a wedding procession overturned in Lodhran district.

The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about passenger safety and speeding during wedding travel. The continuing rescue operation remains focused on locating any remaining people and recovering victims from the canal.

The Kot Addu canal tragedy shows how quickly an ordinary journey can turn into a major disaster. The large number of passengers in the rickshaw and reported overspeeding appear to have made the situation even more dangerous.

The strong water flow and wide canal have added to the difficulty faced by rescuers. The incident also highlights the need for greater caution and safer transport arrangements during wedding processions.

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