Swat River Incident
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, publicly acknowledged “serious shortcomings” in the rescue response to the recent flash flood in the Swat River that claimed at least ten lives, most of whom were tourists from Punjab.
Speaking to media representatives at the scene near Mingora on Saturday, Shah accepted that the tragedy could have been mitigated, had the administration responded more effectively within a critical 45-minute window.
“We had a short window to act. A small mistake turned into a major tragedy,” Shah said, underscoring the urgency and sensitivity of the situation. The failure, he noted, lay across multiple departments. He confirmed the suspension of the district in-charge of Rescue 1122 and assured that a full investigation is underway. “Whether it’s police, rescue, or civil administration — all those found responsible will be held accountable,” he added.
The devastating incident unfolded on Friday morning, when families — including a group from Daska, Punjab — were enjoying breakfast on what appeared to be a safe, dry patch along the riverbank near Swat Bypass. Without warning, a powerful flash flood surged through the area, sweeping away more than a dozen people.
The flood was reportedly triggered by a combination of glacial melt and recent rainfall — phenomena experts have linked to shifting climate patterns in the region.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi reported that around 70 people were initially trapped due to the sudden surge. Of them, 55 were successfully rescued on the first day, while the bodies of ten victims have been recovered.
As of the second day of the search, three individuals remain missing. Faizi explained that the rescue efforts were significantly hindered by the rocky riverbed, which made it impossible to use boats. “The current was too strong, and the rocks were sharp and dangerous. We also couldn’t bring in a helicopter in time,” he said.
In response to the tragedy, the KP government announced financial compensation of Rs1.5 million for the family of each deceased person. Local authorities also ensured that the recovered bodies were transported to their hometowns via ambulances arranged by the district administration.
Further downstream, near Barikot, two more bodies were discovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to ten. Meanwhile, a formal inquiry has been launched into the causes and handling of the disaster, with a full report expected to be submitted to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur within seven days.
Climate experts continue to warn that flash floods of this nature are becoming increasingly frequent in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They attribute this trend to rising global temperatures, accelerated glacial melt, and erratic rainfall — a deadly combination that places both locals and tourists at growing risk.
The tragedy has not only exposed gaps in the province’s emergency response infrastructure but also sparked national debate about disaster preparedness and the urgent need for climate-resilient planning in vulnerable regions like Swat.
