The body of another tourist swept away by a flash flood in the Swat River has been recovered, raising the death toll from the tragic incident to ten, officials said on Saturday.
According to the district administration, sudden flooding in the river early Friday morning trapped around 70 people, most of whom were tourists. Rescue teams managed to safely evacuate 55 individuals, while the operation to locate the remaining victims continues for the second consecutive day.
Officials said that two of the latest bodies were recovered near Barikot, a town downstream from where the incident occurred. All recovered bodies have been shifted to their native towns via ambulances arranged by the local administration.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson confirmed that the operation is being jointly conducted by Civil Defence teams, local volunteers, and rescue officials.
“Initially, it was assumed that the trapped individuals were close to the bank and could be pulled to safety with ropes,” he said. “However, when the situation escalated, trained swimmers were deployed, resulting in the rescue of three to four individuals alive.”
The tragedy struck when a group of families from Sialkot, who were visiting Swat for the outing were having breakfast on the dry bed of the Swat River near the Swat Bypass.
Without warning, a powerful flash flood swept through the area, submerging the riverbank and carrying the visitors away.
10 members of same family washed away
Ten members of the same family were reportedly among those washed away. Their bodies have since been identified and recovered, rescue officials added.
The cause of the sudden surge in water levels has been attributed to a combination of heavy rainfall and accelerated glacial melt in the region, phenomena experts say are becoming increasingly common due to climate change.
“This is not an isolated incident. We are witnessing more frequent and intense flash floods in northern areas, particularly during peak summer months,” said a climate specialist from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Local authorities have issued advisories urging tourists to avoid venturing close to riverbanks, especially during or after rainfall. Swat’s Deputy Commissioner has also called for hotels and roadside establishments near rivers to be more vigilant and restrict access to dangerous zones.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 teams say they will continue their search operation until the remaining three missing persons are found.
