The death toll from the sinking of an overloaded boat carrying students on a school trip to Pakistan on a lake on Sunday has risen to 51, police said on Tuesday, including 49 children.
Rescue teams spent three days diving into the frigid waters of Tanda Dam Lake, near Kohat, in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to retrieve the bodies of children from a Koranic school.
A teacher and the boat driver were also among the victims, Fazl Naim, a local police spokesman, told AFP, who confirmed the new toll.
“The boat overturned and its cargo and maximum carrying capacity increased from 20 to 25 people,” he added.
Five people were rescued, four students and a teacher.
“More than 25 divers, including soldiers, took part in this mission,” said Khatir Ahmed, an official with the rescue service.
The initial number was ten dead.
Sinking with many casualties is a common occurrence in Pakistan, where damaged and overburdened ships can capsize.
Many Pakistanis cannot swim.
