A tragic tragedy unraveled in Pakistan’s scenic Swat Valley when a bunch of holidaymakers became the victims of the turbulent Swat River, sending the country into shock.
An earlier probe conducted by the Malakand Commissioner, now released to the Provincial Inspection Team, explains what actually went wrong that terrible day.
According to the report, the water level in the Swat River surged dramatically due to heavy rainfall, reaching a dangerous 77,782 cusecs. Sadly, 17 tourists were trapped by the sudden floodwaters. Most of the victims hailed from Sialkot and Mardan, while one local resident was also caught in the disaster.
One of the most alarming revelations from the report is that the constant work around the Swat River changed the course of its natural flow. This diverted the water to a different side, so that where there was a false calm of low water, the tourists were deceived.
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The timeline of the tragedy is equally chilling. The group checked into their hotel at 8:31 am and headed towards the river at 9:31 am. Although a hotel security guard warned them, they bypassed the warning by taking a route behind the hotel. Just 14 minutes later, at 9:45 am, the situation turned critical, prompting an urgent call to rescue teams.
Rescue teams arrived at the site within 20 minutes, at 10:05 am. There had been several weather alerts and flood advisories issued before the accident, and emergency personnel had been out as a precautionary measure. In addition, a swimming and boating ban in the Swat River had also been imposed under Section 144 since June 2 and further extended on June 24 to last throughout the month.
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Despite the proactive measures, the tragedy struck hard. Rescue teams managed to save 4 tourists immediately, while 12 bodies were later recovered. Search operations continue for one missing person.
Alarmingly, the report further states that more than 75 individuals across various areas of Swat were carried away by the severe flooding. In the wake of the incident, some local officials, such as the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, and Assistant Commissioners of Babuzai and Khwazakhela, were suspended. The District Emergency Officer and Swat Tehsil Municipal Officer were also suspended regarding their actions.
In response to the disaster, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa visited the site on June 28 and imposed a complete ban on mining activities along the Swat River to prevent future tragedies.
