ISLAMABAD: Seven members of a family lost their lives after a vehicle they were travelling in was swept away by gushing water while crossing a bridge over a nullah during the rainstorm early on Saturday, police said.

The family from Ahmed Town, Bhara Kahu, had gone to Phulgran to attend a marriage ceremony. After the ceremony, they were returning home in a Mehran car when the incident occurred while crossing the bridge over a nullah at Kund at 1am. The deceased were identified as Raja Hamza, 19, Rabia Bibi, Tahira Bibi, Shumaila Bibi, Manahil Bibi, Rimsha Bibi and Nazia Bibi.

Station House Officer (SHO) Bhara Kahu Inspector Asjad Mehmood told Dawn that the riders of the car were new in the route and not aware of the makeshift bridge. The bridge over the nullah was made by local people as a temproaroy arrangement, he added.

During the rainstorm last night and its surrounding areas, there was flooding in the nullah coming from Murree. The gushing water hit the bridge at Kund when the car was crossing it at 1am, the SHO said.

“Unfortunately, the gushing water swept away the car,” he added. The police got information early in the morning and reached the spot and started searching for the vehicle.

The car was found about 100 yards away from the bridge and all the seven people were found dead inside, the SHO said. After legal procedures, the bodies were handed over to their relatives.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2021