Two siblings drown in Kunhar River in Kaghan

Two siblings, aged eight and six, drowned after falling into the Kunhar River in Kaghan Valley’s Tarapi area, Rescue 1122 said. In a separate incident, a man was killed in firing over a land dispute in Siren Valley.

MANSEHRA: Two young siblings drowned after they slipped from a rocky slope into the Kunhar River in the Tarapi area of Kaghan Valley on Wednesday, according to Rescue 1122 and local witnesses.

District Emergency Officer of Rescue 1122 Ibrar Ali said rescuers had begun an operation after the children fell from a height into the river and were swept away by the strong current. "We have launched a rescue operation after a boy and his sister playing in the mountainous area fell from a height into the river and were swept away by the fast-flowing water," Ali told reporters.

Witnesses said the children were Sameer, 8, and his sister Fatima, 6. They had come from Balakot to visit their grandparents in Tarapi when they reportedly lost their footing on a rocky surface and fell into the river, where the current carried them downstream.

Villagers and relatives rushed to the site after the incident. The siblings were identified as grandchildren of a local resident, Shahzaman. Family members and residents informed Rescue 1122 and asked rescuers to retrieve the bodies.

Ali said the search and recovery effort was continuing, but the speed of the river was making the operation difficult.

The Rescue 1122 official also appealed to the public not to crowd the area where the operation was under way and instead assist rescue workers by cooperating with them. "I am optimistic that our divers’ team could fish out the bodies soon and hand them over to their family," Ali said.

Man killed in Siren Valley firing

In a separate incident in the Nawazabad area of Siren Valley, one man was killed and another was critically injured when two rival groups exchanged fire over a land dispute.

Officials said Waliur Rehman and Mohammad Alam suffered serious gunshot wounds and were shifted to a nearby health facility. Doctors later pronounced Rehman dead.

After medico-legal formalities were completed, the body was handed over to the family.

Police have registered an FIR and started an investigation to arrest the suspects, who fled the scene after the shooting.