19 swept away as Swat River surges dangerously after heavy rains

Express Tribune

5 hours ago

A rescue worker rows a raft while searching for survivors, after tourists, who were on a picnic, were swept away by overflowing floodwaters in the Swat River, in Swat Valley in Pakistan June 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters
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Flash floods triggered by a sudden surge in the Swat River and other streams in the district following heavy monsoon rains on Friday claimed the lives of at least 10 people, while several others remain missing, according to provincial rescue officials and eyewitnesses.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) described the flood level as "very high," while officials said dozens of people were trapped as authorities scrambled to deal with the aftermath of two days of relentless downpours.
The river swelled dramatically after the torrential rains, sweeping away 19 tourists - including women and children - who had gathered on a rocky area along the riverbank near the bypass road. Rescuers managed to save only three individuals, while 10 bodies were recovered later in the day.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene: the water rose rapidly and surrounded the tourists within moments, leaving them no time to escape. The victims belonged to two families who had travelled to the popular tourist destination from Sialkot and Mardan.
Rescue 1122, in coordination with the district administration and local police, transported the bodies to Saidu Teaching Hospital. The deceased were identified as Umda (18), Muhammad Ayan (7), Rubina (45), Sharmeen (16), Tazmeen (18), Aima (10), and Merab (17) - all from Sialkot. Two other victims, Farman and Eshyal, were from Mardan.
In response, the district administration imposed an immediate state of emergency in the area and urged the public to avoid going near the river. Rescue teams were deployed at key locations, with additional diving units dispatched to assist in the search and recovery operation.
According to officials, dozens of people remained stranded in flood-hit areas. PDMA classified the situation as "very high alert," while several people were rescued and relocated to safer locations in Mam Dherai, Ghaligay, and other parts of Swat.
Media reports, citing senior provincial officials, indicated that 18 individuals were still missing. A statement issued by Chief Secretary Shehab Ali Shah in Peshawar revealed that more than 75 people were trapped at different locations; of these, 58 had been successfully rescued.
In response to the evolving situation, the provincial government, under directives from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, established a special flood cell. PDMA also issued alerts to authorities in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera to brace for the potential impact of floodwaters from Swat.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. Both leaders offered condolences to the bereaved families and instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to work closely with local agencies to ensure effective safety and relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the NDMA issued a fresh weather advisory, warning of more heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Peshawar, Bannu and Waziristan districts.
The NEOC also forecast widespread monsoon activity across Punjab and Sindh over the next 48 hours. "Heavy rain is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Badin, Umerkot, and other districts," the alert stated.
The advisory further warned of strong winds and downpours in upper and central Punjab, including Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Mianwali.
Urban flooding in major cities and landslides in mountainous regions were also deemed likely due to the intensity of the weather system.
Retreat turns to tragedy
An extended family from Daska on a recreational outing near Fizagat in Swat was caught off guard when a sudden river surge swept away 18 tourists, most of them relatives.
The group, led by Abdul Rehman of Daska Kalan, included several family members: Rubeena Kausar, his daughter-in-law; Abdullah (15); Tazmeen (21); Sharmeen (19); his daughter Fauzia, her husband Mohsin, and their daughters Meerab (17), Ajwa (15), Ishal (13) and Anfal (9).
Another daughter, Ayesha, wife of Shehbaz, was also missing, along with their children—Aima (12), and sons Ayaan (9), Ziyan (5) and Zohan (3).
The group was reportedly joined by another family when the flash flood struck. Standing at the riverbank, they were caught by the powerful current.
Rescuers, joined by local volunteers, immediately launched search operations.
Among the recovered victims are Meerab, a second-year student; Ajwa, a matric student; Eyan (6), son of Shehbaz; a doctor; a maternal cousin; and Tobina Islam, sister-in-law of Mohsin.
What began as a joyful summer retreat turned into an unimaginable tragedy. The river's merciless current left little time to react, and Daska is now in mourning, with entire neighbourhoods grieving the loss of their loved ones.
In response to the tragic loss, Assistant Commissioner Usman Ghani of Daska visited the bereaved families to extend condolences on behalf of the district administration.
The devastating incident has sparked widespread outrage and grief on social media, with citizens calling for immediate safety protocols to be put in place along riverbanks.
There have been growing demands for increased awareness and regulation in tourist hotspots prone to such natural hazards.