Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah on Saturday acknowledged “serious shortcomings” in the rescue efforts following a flash flood in the Swat River that claimed at least ten lives, mostly tourists from Punjab.
Addressing media at the scene near Mingora, Shahab Shah said the administration had a window of 45 minutes in which lives could have been saved, but “a small mistake turned into a major tragedy.”
He confirmed that the district in-charge of Rescue 1122 had been suspended and assured that all those responsible — whether from the police, rescue services, or civil administration — would be held accountable.
The provincial government announced financial compensation of Rs1.5 million for the family of each deceased person.
The incident occurred on Friday morning when multiple families, including one from Daska in Punjab, were enjoying breakfast on a dry patch along the riverbank near the Swat Bypass. Without warning, a powerful flash flood swept in, washing away more than a dozen people.
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Rescue officials confirmed that 70 individuals were initially trapped due to the sudden surge in water levels — triggered by glacial melt and rainfall, both attributed to changing climate patterns. While 55 were rescued on the first day, ten bodies have been recovered so far, and three people remain missing as the search operation entered its second day.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi, efforts were hampered due to the rocky riverbed, which made boat access impossible. “The current was too strong, and sharp stones posed serious risks. We couldn’t deploy a helicopter due to time constraints,” he explained.
He added that an inquiry has been launched into the tragedy and a report will be submitted to the Chief Minister within seven days.
Earlier, two more bodies were recovered near Barikot, downstream from the incident site. All recovered bodies have been sent to their native areas via ambulances arranged by the local authorities.
Climate experts say such flash floods are becoming increasingly frequent due to rising temperatures and accelerated glacial melt, especially in the northern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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