UPPER DIR: Two children drowned in the Dir River near the Parao area of Upper Dir on Friday, with rescue teams later recovering both bodies, officials said.
The incident occurred despite restrictions imposed by the district administration under Section 144, which prohibits people from going near riverbanks due to safety concerns.
According to reports, the two children, believed to be neighbours, had gone to the riverbank in the afternoon. They reportedly fell into the river while attempting to pick unripe plums from a nearby tree.
Rescue teams recovered one body shortly after the incident, while the second was retrieved later near a girls’ degree college in the area. Both were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dir.
Hospital officials and rescue authorities confirmed that one child had died on the spot, while the other was brought to the hospital but could not be revived.
Funeral prayers for the children were held at the ground of a government school in Dir.
Authorities said Section 144 had already been enforced to restrict access to riverbanks, and rescue and civil defence teams are conducting awareness visits to discourage people, especially children, from approaching the river.
Officials urged residents to comply with safety measures to prevent further incidents.
