Bodies of two drowned siblings remain missing for fourth day in Kaghan

MANSEHRA: The bodies of two minor siblings who fell into the Kunhar River after slipping from a rocky slope had still not been recovered by Saturday, four days after the incident in Kaghan Valley.

Balakot Assistant Commissioner Hasrat Khan said rescue teams had continued the search since the children fell into the river, but a large tree lodged in the middle of the waterway was hampering the operation. “Rescuers have been searching for the bodies since the children fell into the river, but a large tree stuck in the middle of the river remains a major obstacle,” he told reporters.

The deceased children were identified as Sameer, 8, and his sister Fatima, 6. According to the official, the two had travelled from Balakot with their mother to visit their grandparents in the Tarapi area when they slipped from a rocky slope and fell into the Kunhar River earlier this week.

Officials said heavy machinery had also been brought in to try to remove the tree trapped between rocks in the river. They said the obstruction was affecting the flow of water and stopping the bodies from moving downstream. “We have brought in heavy machinery to remove the tree, which has been here since the 2010 floods and has spread its roots all around in the river, but so far we have been unable to dislodge it,” Khan said.

Hasrat Khan said the point where the incident occurred had a water channel more than 100 feet deep. However, he said solid objects were not able to pass downstream there, leading rescuers to believe the bodies could still be trapped upstream or buried under debris.

A team of local divers, described by officials as experienced in search and recovery work, was assisting the rescue personnel in the ongoing operation.

A large number of people gathered at the site during the rescue effort, and the crowd caused disruption to traffic on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

Search operation continues

The recovery effort remained under way on the fourth day, with rescuers focusing on the area around the lodged tree and surrounding debris. Officials said the tree had remained there since the 2010 floods and its roots had spread through the riverbed, making removal difficult despite the use of machinery.

The incident occurred in the Tarapi area of Kaghan Valley, where the siblings had gone to visit their grandparents. Rescue teams have been searching the river since the children fell in, while local divers have joined the effort to help trace the bodies.