KHYBER: A 15-year-old boy was recovered from a water pond in the remote Lwee Shalman area of Landi Kotal tehsil, District Khyber.
According to local sources, the incident occurred when the boy, Abrar son of Najeeb Shalmani, drowned in the Khoni Dhand pond. Upon receiving the news, residents rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation on their own. After hours of effort, community members recovered Abrar’s body from the water.
Following the necessary formalities, the body was sent to his native village. The tragic incident has cast a pall of grief over the area.
Locals have urged the administration to install safety measures around open water ponds in remote regions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“Khoni Dhand,” “bloody pond” in English, is a rain-fed or spring-fed water reservoir used by communities for livestock and sometimes bathing. They often lack fencing, warning signs, or depth markers, making them hazardous, especially for children.
Drownings in open water bodies spike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the summer and monsoon season. KP Rescue 1122 reports dozens of cases yearly from ponds, rivers, and canals in rural districts. Children and teenagers are most at risk due to swimming in unsafe spots.
