By Shahzad Naveed
At least nine people have lost their lives, and several others are still missing, after a group of 17 tourists were swept away by a sudden surge in the Swat River on Friday morning. This tragic incident occurred near Bypass Road in Mingora when a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains upstream, caught the group by surprise while they were having breakfast along the riverbank.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob confirmed that nine bodies had been recovered, while four individuals were rescued alive. Rescue teams are continuing their search for the remaining four missing persons under difficult and dangerous conditions. According to the district administration, ten of the victims were from Sialkot, six were from Mardan, and one was a resident of Swat. The group from Sialkot was on a leisure trip and had no prior warning about the rapid rise in the water level.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the water appeared calm earlier that morning but surged without warning, sweeping several people away. A surviving relative, speaking to the media, described the horrific moment when their family was engulfed by the floodwaters. He stated that ten members of his immediate family, including women and children, were among those swept away. He expressed his anguish over the delayed arrival of rescue services, claiming that by the time the teams reached the site, many victims had already vanished into the current.
Despite the enforcement of Section 144, which prohibits approaching or bathing in the river, officials lamented that many tourists continue to ignore safety warnings. Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob emphasised the importance of following safety guidelines, especially during the monsoon season, and urged visitors to avoid venturing near riverbanks.
Following the incident, personnel from the Pakistan Army were deployed to assist with search and rescue operations. Equipped with emergency gear, the troops joined Rescue 1122 in their efforts to locate and recover missing persons. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local authorities to intensify rescue operations and issue urgent precautionary advisories near rivers and streams.
President Asif Ali Zardari extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the souls of the deceased. Senator Sherry Rehman referred to the incident as an irreparable national tragedy and called for stronger public awareness and safety measures during extreme weather events.
This devastating incident in Swat coincided with widespread flooding in other districts following heavy overnight rains. In Lower Dir, rising waters from the Panjkora River trapped multiple individuals, including two children and two women, who were successfully rescued. An elderly man caught in a flood drain was also saved.
In various flood-affected parts of Swat, rescue teams reported saving 55 people stranded by the rising water levels. Ten confirmed drowned near a hotel at Bypass Road, while additional bodies were recovered from the Angro Dherai Canal and Ghalegay. Rescue efforts continue for those still missing.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid approaching rivers or streams, as weather conditions are expected to remain unstable. Emergency response teams are on high alert, as the monsoon season continues to pose serious threats to life and property in the region.
Read also: AC Babuzai, Khwazakhela, ADC relief among several officers suspended in Swat tragedy: CM spokesperson
