Two girls drown while fetching water in Shangla

SHANGLA: Two young girls drowned in the River Indus while fetching water in the Dedal Kamach area of Martung tehsil in Shangla district on Thursday, Rescue 1122 officials said.

They said local residents managed to rescue 11-year-old Fatima alive, while the search for the remaining two girls is still underway. All three girls belonged to the same locality and had gone to the riverbank with other companions to collect water.

Rescue 1122 teams, the officials said, reached the site promptly and, along with local volunteers, launched a search operation. Despite continuous efforts, they said, the other two girls have not yet been located.

Eyewitnesses reported that the River Indus in this region is known for its fast-flowing waters, which likely contributed to the unfortunate event. In the aftermath of the incident, the residents have urged authorities and the public to ensure proper safety measures are in place, especially for children, to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 has issued an emergency alert advising the public to exercise extreme caution near riverbanks and to avoid entering the water without proper safety arrangements.