The death toll from the tragic incident in which a loader rickshaw carrying wedding guests fell into the Muzaffargarh Canal has risen to eight, according to rescue officials.
The incident occurred near Sananwan in Kot Addu tehsil, where more than two dozen people were travelling in the rickshaw when the vehicle lost control and plunged into the canal.
Rescue teams are continuing an operation to locate the missing passengers. According to the latest rescue update, seven children remain missing, with their ages ranging between three and 14 years.
Earlier updates had put the number of missing people at eight and later nine as the search operation progressed and bodies were recovered. Rescue officials said the search for the remaining missing passengers is continuing with the district administration involved in the operation.
11 passengers rescued alive
The loader rickshaw was carrying more than two dozen members of the same family, who were travelling as part of a wedding procession.
The vehicle reportedly fell into the canal at around 9am, after the driver lost control. Rescue teams managed to pull 11 people alive from the water and shifted them to hospital for medical treatment.
Rescue teams have continued recovering bodies from the Muzaffargarh Canal as the search operation progresses.
Earlier rescue updates reported six and seven bodies recovered, while the latest update said another child's body was recovered, taking the death toll to eight.
The recovery operation remains focused on locating the missing children and other passengers still unaccounted for.
Funeral prayers offered
Funeral prayers for four of the deceased have been offered in their respective native areas.
Meanwhile, rescue teams and the district administration remain engaged in the search operation as authorities work to recover those still missing from the canal.
