Four Children Perish in Lakki Marwat Pond Drowning

On July 14, 2025, four children, including two sets of brothers, drowned in a rainwater pond in Daulat Khel, Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), sparking grief and renewed calls for safety measures. This article examines the tragedy, its regional context, and the urgent need for preventive action.

The heartbreaking incident occurred in the Daulat Khel area, where the children, aged 9 to 12, were bathing in a pond swollen by recent monsoon rains. According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi, speaking to Dawn.com, the victims, all local residents and related, slipped into deep water and could not be saved despite efforts by locals. Rescue teams recovered their bodies and transported them to City Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival. “The community is in deep shock,” Faizi noted, as families gathered in mourning. The tragedy has left the close-knit village reeling, with locals describing the children as vibrant and beloved.

This drowning is part of a disturbing pattern in KP, where monsoon-related water hazards have claimed numerous lives. On June 27, 13 tourists drowned in the River Swat, and a boat capsizing in Kalam’s Shahi Bagh lake killed four, including two children, per Daily Times. Rescue officials have urged parents to supervise children near water bodies, citing unpredictable depths and currents in rainwater ponds. “These tragedies are preventable with better oversight,” said a Rescue 1222 official, highlighting the lack of safety barriers around such sites.

Conservatives point to systemic failures, arguing that local authorities have neglected infrastructure improvements like fencing or warning signs around hazardous ponds. Posts on X, such as one from @SAMAATV, reflect public outrage over recurring drownings, questioning why KP’s government hasn’t prioritized safety measures. With the province facing ongoing challenges like polio outbreaks and security issues, as noted in a May 2025 report by Outbreak News Today, resources for basic safety often fall short. This tragedy underscores the need for robust governance to protect vulnerable communities from preventable disasters.