A tense ordeal ended safely Sunday as all 130 passengers stranded on a boat that ran aground near Tarbela Dam in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were rescued, confirmed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shauzab Abbas.
“Everyone’s safe,” Abbas declared, detailing a swift operation that started at 2 PM and wrapped up before sunset. The effort, led by Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Abbas, saw Rescue 1122 and revenue officials step in, even providing food to those stuck aboard.
ہری پور میں تربیلا ڈیم کے دلدل میں پھنسی کشتی کے تمام مسافروں کو بحفاظت نکال لیا گیا#Harīpur #ExpressNews #BreakingNews #LatestNews #tarbeladam #Rescue #AssistantCommissioner pic.twitter.com/yrnlPfoVg2
— Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) April 6, 2025Abbas said the boat, meant to carry 70 people max, was nearly double-loaded, likely causing the grounding. “We’d warned operators against overloading,” he stressed, noting the vessel’s owner and crew flouted clear rules. The operator and his helper are now in custody, with Abbas vowing “strict legal action” against them and the owner.
This is not Tarbela’s first incident in 2019, a capsized boat left 18 people unaccounted for; four bodies surfaced in 2021, possibly linked to this event. KP mandated boat registration and load limits following the incident, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
The rescue illuminates safety lapses at Tarbela Lake. With all 130 saved, Haripur’s DC is pushing accountability to prevent a repeat and keep the dam’s waters safe for all.
