The boat of the procession capsized in the Indus river in Pakistan (symbolic photo)

 At least 19 women died after a boat capsized in the

near the Punjab and Sindh border region in

The people in the boat were going to attend a marriage ceremony.

Officials gave this information on Monday.

Officials said that other people going to the procession are being searched.

He told that there were about 100 people in the boat.

These people were residents of a clan of Machhka, about 65 km from Rahim Yar Khan.

Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza told the media that around 30 rescuers, including expert swimmers, five ambulances and a water rescue van, were present at the spot in the rescue operation.

"Nineteen bodies have been recovered and all of them are women.

We are looking for the remaining passengers.

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According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn,

only last week, the disaster management officer of the area had issued an alert of heavy rain and appealed to the people not to go into the river from July 15 to July 17. 

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has informed that Scattered to widespread thunderstorm/rain of moderate to heavy intensity with isolated very heavy falls is expected over Bahawalpur and DG Khan Divisions.

1/3 pic.twitter.com/PRX6UIIulb

— PDMA Punjab Official (@PdmapunjabO) July 15, 2022

Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed grief over the incident on Twitter and prayed for the families of the deceased.