A rescuer named Ismail saved eight people from drowning in the Raghagan Dam district of Bajaur. Ismail, 25, saved the lives of people and escorted them to a safe place. He works as a rescuer at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Civil Defense Department.
Talking to a local media outlet, Ismail said that he immediately reached the spot as soon as he heard of the sinking of the two boats in the dam. He started saving people from drowning.
“I saved the lives of eight people who were drowning and I am proud of what I did,” the 25-year-old said after the incident.
As per the authorities, a Save and Rescue Operation was conducted by 1122. According to an eyewitness, 18 people were on board and no one was wearing a safety jacket. Four people belonging to the same family lost their lives in the incident. 11 people were rescued and discharged after being shifted to the hospital. Three people are missing.
باجوڑ; راغگان ڈیم میں افسوسناک واقعہ کی بنیادی سبب کشتی میں گنجائش سے زیادہ افراد کے بیٹھنے سے پیش آیا۔ اب سوال یہ ہے کشتیاں چلانے کی اجازت کس نے دی? کشتیاں چلانے والا ڈراٸیور کے پاس لاٸیسنس موجود تھے?
دفعہ 144 کے نفاذ کے باوجود پیش آیا۔
#Bajaur https://t.co/HWF3kMaopF pic.twitter.com/u5ZjSNidza— Idrees Sarkani 🦋🌺 (@idreesSarkani1) July 22, 2021
The recent drowning incident at the #RaghaganDam in the tribal district of #Bajaur KP is unfortunate and alarming. How can the administration allow some body to put public lives at such a risk with out regulations. This is not the #FATAMarger we expected. @ImranKhanPTI
— Alamgir Khan. (@dralamgirkhan) July 22, 2021
Funeral prayers of the deceased were performed. The rescue operation to find the missing people is still underway.
The incident took place during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays. Twitter users have expressed remorse for the loss of precious lives on the joyous occasion.
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They censured authorities for committing gross negligence as none of the people on board were provided with the safety jackets. They have demanded that the local administration ensure complete safety protocols for the visitors at tourist spots. Another user said that boat capsized due to overloading. He added that the license of people running boat service in the dam must be checked and be punished accordingly.
باجوڑ راغگان ڈیم میں کشتی ڈوبنےسے18 قیمتی جانوں کےضیاع پر عيدالاضحى کےپرمسرت موقع پرانکےخاندان پر غم کی فضا ہے۔غمزدہ خاندانوں کیساتھ اظہار ہمدردی کرتےہے،لواحقین کو صبرجمیل کی دعائیں مگرحکومت سیاحتی مقامات پر انسانی جانوں کےتحفظ کےلیےتمام احتیاطی تدابیر لازمی بنائے#Bajaur pic.twitter.com/stftx8Px03
— Daud Jan 🇵🇰 (@daudjaan10) July 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/zeeshanhoti/status/1418099942774738945?s=20
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Another user added that he witnessed the rescue operation at the Raghagan Dam and he saw only one rescuer trying to save everyone. The rescue operation was beefed up later on. Army divers also participated to save and find the missing people. CM KPK Mahmood Khan, himself, monitored the rescue operation.