CM seeks personal intervention of Sushma Swaraj to rescue Punjabi Youth reportedly drowned near Panama

CHANDIGARH : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought personal intervention of the Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to make expeditious and earnest efforts to rescue and bring back Punjabi youth who have been reportedly drowned near Panama.
In a letter to Swaraj, the Chief Minister apprised her about the media reports that 22-24 youths from Punjab have reportedly drowned near Panama, when the boat in which they were travelling in from a port town called Turbo, capsized on its journey towards United States of America (USA). He said that this tragedy has shaken the families of these youth to the core and in the absence of any reliable information, it was difficult to console their family members. Mr. Badal said that on its part the state government has registered a case against the Travel Agents belonging to District Kapurthala who were instrumental in arranging their journey adding that two travel agents have already been arrested in this regard. The Chief Minister impressed upon Mrs. Swaraj that the Government of India (GoI) should make immediate and sincere efforts through the governments of concerned countries and Indian Missions in Colombia and Panama so that these young boys could be rescued and brought back to India.