ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Tuesday its divers had recovered bodies of 51 seminary students and teachers from a lake in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where they experienced a boating accident over the weekend.
The students, estimated to be between seven and 14 years of age, were visiting Tanda Dam Lake for picnic when the tragic incident took place.
“Pakistan army troops along with Rescue 1122 and civil administration working constantly day and night since 72 hours rescued 5 students alive from Tanda Dam while Pakistan army engineers and divers of [Special Services Group] recovered 51 deceased students and teachers from Tanda Dam,” said a statement released by the military’s media wing ISPR.
“The 5 rescued students have been shifted to [District] Hospital Kohat,” it continued. “Search for one missing individual is ongoing.”
It is not clear how the accident took place, though the vessel carrying the seminary students was said to be overloaded before it lost stability and capsized in the water.
AFP quoted a local police official as saying the bodies pulled from the lake included 49 seminary students, one teacher and a skipper.
The incident once again raised questions over safety procedures followed by people operating boats at recreational facilities near Pakistani lakes in different cities.
Last year in July, 18 women drowned when an overcrowded boat carrying a wedding party capsized while crossing the Indus river.
