June 28, 2025
By Anwar Anjum
MINGORA
A family picnic by the serene banks of River Swat turned into a harrowing tragedy on Friday, as at least 13 tourists drowned after being swept away by sudden flash floods near the Fiza Ghat Bypass, a popular tourist destination close to Mingora.
The group, which had traveled from Sialkot and Mardan, was having breakfast by the riverbank when they were caught off guard by the river’s violent surge.
According to rescue officials, the incident occurred following two days of continuous rainfall, which significantly swelled the river’s flow.
The tourists were gathered at the river’s edge—some seated, some standing in shallow water, taking pictures—when the water suddenly surged.
“It all happened in a matter of seconds,” said an eyewitness, Khawaja Irfan, who was present at the site. “We kept calling the rescue teams and the administration for help, but they reached almost two hours later. Had they arrived sooner, many lives could have been saved.”
A spokesperson for Swat Rescue 1122 confirmed that eight bodies had been recovered by late Friday evening and that five individuals were still missing. “The remaining trapped tourists were rescued successfully,” he added.
However, local residents and victims’ families claim that delays and negligence by local authorities worsened the tragedy. “We even tried calling the Assistant Commissioner’s control room,” Irfan said, “but no one answered for nearly an hour and 45 minutes.”
The group comprised 22 individuals, including women and children. Most of them were relatives traveling together. Victims from Sialkot included Ayan (7), Rubina (45), Ajwa (18), Sharmeen (16), Murab (18), and Tazmeen (20). Two others who drowned, Aishal Naseer and Farman Hussain, belonged to Mardan. Their names were confirmed by rescue authorities later in the evening.
Among the survivors was Zahid, a relative from the Sialkot family, who broke down while speaking to reporters. “We had just finished breakfast. Some of our family members went closer to the river to take pictures,” he said. “Suddenly, the water level rose. My children, my sisters… they were right there. We lost them all. Our world has been destroyed.”
Shahid Ali Khan, Mayor of Mingora, spoke to Voicepk.net and confirmed that he had personally visited the site and supervised the rescue operation. “This group had come from Sialkot to enjoy Swat’s weather. They were unaware that Section 144 had been imposed in the region following a similar incident in Kalam last week,” he said. “Despite public announcements and warnings, they ended up in the danger zone of the river.”
Local authorities had enforced Section 144 to prohibit swimming or bathing in the river due to hazardous conditions. However, enforcement remains lax, and thousands of tourists continue to flock to the riverside daily. “The administration has failed to ensure compliance,” said a local resident. “Warnings are not enough when human lives are at stake.”
Dr. Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, a tourist from Jacobabad, who witnessed the incident, shared his thoughts: “The region is breathtaking, no doubt. But we tourists must act responsibly. The river may look calm, but nature can turn in an instant.”
Friday’s tragedy has once again exposed the gap between regulation and enforcement in popular tourist spots like Swat, where natural beauty draws crowds but safety protocols are either unknown or disregarded. The disaster has left two families shattered and raised urgent questions about the role of authorities in preventing such avoidable loss of life.
As rescue teams continue their search for the five missing individuals, the mood in Swat remains somber—a reminder that in the face of nature’s fury, complacency can prove fatal.