On September 10, 2025, a rescue boat carrying 19 flood victims capsized in the Chenab River near Jalalpur Pirwala, Multan, plunging the region into grief. The incident, which occurred during a desperate evacuation effort amid Pakistan’s devastating monsoon floods, resulted in the death of a child and left one person missing.

The boat, operated by Rescue 1122, was evacuating residents from the flood-hit village of Darabpur near the Quaid-e-Millat School in Obaro, South Multan. Around 9:00 a.m. PKT, it overturned due to strong water currents, according to Multan City Police Officer Sadiq Ali Dogar. Of the 19 passengers on board, 18 were rescued, but a young child tragically drowned. Rescue teams, supported by local residents, launched a frantic search for the missing individual, with efforts ongoing as of September 11, 2025.

The accident occurred in the context of severe flooding that has battered Punjab since late June. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that monsoon rains have claimed 907 lives nationwide, with Punjab alone seeing 223 deaths and over 1,400 villages submerged. The Chenab River’s powerful currents, exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall, likely contributed to the boat’s instability, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by rescue teams.

The tragedy follows a similar incident in Jalalpur Pirwala on September 6, 2025, where a rescue boat carrying over 25 people capsized, killing a woman and three children. That accident, attributed to overcrowding and strong currents, raised alarms about the safety of evacuation operations. In response, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia issued strict orders against overloading boats, emphasizing that safety must remain the top priority.