Lahore: Severe flooding overturned a boat carrying a marriage party in Pakistan's Punjab province leaving at least 18 dead, including the bridegroom, even as swelling waters continued to wreak havoc in the country affecting over two million people.
The boat drowned in central Pakistani city of Multan near the Sher Shah Bridge when it capsized owing to high pressure of floods water.
"Bridegroom Zahid Hamid along with his bride Mishal and some 40 other relatives were going to Multan from Basti Chenab (Muzaffargarh), some 400 kilometres from Lahore, to attend the reception ceremony when the boat lost its balance due to heavy flood water pressure and capsized," District Coordination Officer Hafiz Shaukat said.
"The rescue teams including navy personnel launched rescue operation and saved the lives of the bride and 21 others while 18 people including women and a minor child lost their lives," he said, adding, the operation is still underway to search for more people.
A four-year-old child was among the dead. "The death toll may rise," he said.
A junior commissioned officer of the Pakistani Army also lost his life in the rescue operation.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, over two million people have been affected from the floods in Punjab province and the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The Army and Punjab Emergency Service have rescued over 3,00,000 people. At least 260 lives were claimed by the floods in Punjab and the PoK.
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