Nangarhar boat sinking: 10 passengers rescued, 6 bodies recovered

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Rescuers were able to save 10 people and fish out six bodies after a passenger boat capsized in eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday.

The boat carrying 25 people including women and children sank in tBasol Dobila area of Momand Dara district at 7am.

Information and Culture Director Sediqullah Quraishi told Pajhwok Afghan News 20 people lost their lives and five others were rescued, but after two hours, he said 10 people had been rescued from water.

“10 people have been rescued so far and six bodies pulled out. The dead included two women, three children and a man. The injured include women and children, three of the injured who were in critical condition have been shifted to Jalalabad zonal hospital”: he said.

According to him, efforts are underway to retrieve all the bodies. The victims include three members of a family and other villagers.

Public Health Department spokesman Naqibullah Rahimi told Pajhwok Afghan News 10 injuried and five dead bodies had been evacuated to Momandara zonal hospital.

“Seven injured received treatment in Basol clinic and three others who were in critical condition have been transferred to Jalalabad zonal hospital for treatment”.

Sherzad Ahmadkhel, one of the rescued persons, said the boat capsized due to technical problems.

He said the boat was full beyond its capacity and it capsized due to brisk current. He said men were able to swim and survive, but women and children drowned.

Elham, a resident of the area, told Pajhwok there was a lot of water in the river and it was difficult for the rescue team to recover the bodies.

Though a bridge has been built for traveling to Lalpur district, but people from some remote areas come to Momandara district in boats, which sometimes leads to such incidents.

hz/ma