At least 19 passengers, all women, were drowned as a boat carrying more than 70 passengers on board capsized in Indus River near Machka, Sadiqabad after attending a wedding on Monday.
According to the police, the passengers were the part of a marriage procession that was heading towards Machka from Kharor.
“At least 35 people were rescued by the locals,” police said, adding that the rescue teams had also arrived at the scene.
“The dead bodies of all 19 women have been fished out from the river,” police stated.
“Search for the people who are still missing is underway,” said the assistant commissioner of Sadiqabad.
The police said the locals dashed to the nearest bank of the incident site and immediately jumped into the river.
The rescue teams later joined the locals and took part in the rescue operation.
