SWAT/PESHAWAR  -  Eleven tourists were swept away due to flash floods in the Khwaza Khela area of district Swat on Friday.

According to emergency responders, rescue operation was underway to recover missing people from the river Swat. So far, eight dead bodies have been recovered in the Manyar area of Swat while one person has been rescued alive, a Rescue 1122 official said.

Local residents reported that the victims were tourists visiting Swat, who got trapped near the bypass area and were carried away by the fast-moving water. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed their deep grief over the death of tourists in the flash flood in Swat River at Khwazakhela area. The president and prime minister, in their separately issued statements, conveyed their sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.

They also prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the departed souls and strength for the grieved families to bear the loss. “We equally share the grief of the affected families during this difficult time,” the president said. Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the authorities concerned to swiftly complete the search and rescue operation for missing persons in the incident. He instructed NDMA, the administration, and rescue agencies to further strengthen safety measures along rivers and streams.

The prime minister praised NDMA, the administration, and rescue officials for rescuing tourists stranded due to the flash flood in Swat.

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa later released a preliminary report on the damages and rescue operations following the flash floods in Swat. According to the report, at around 8:30am on Friday, 18 individuals were caught in a sudden flash flood near Ji Qurban Hotel on Swat Bypass. Upon receiving the alert, a prompt rescue operation was launched. Three individuals were safely rescued, while the bodies of six others were recovered during a joint operation carried out by Rescue 1122, the district administration, and local volunteers. Nine people remain missing, and search efforts are ongoing up to the boundaries of Malakand district. The victims belong to Daska (Punjab) and Mardan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and announced compensation for the deceased individuals from Punjab as well. He has also called for a detailed report on the damages and instructed the Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team to initiate an inquiry into the incident.

The report further notes that over ten individuals were confirmed drowned near Relax Hotel on Swat Bypass, with rescue teams on site continuing the search operation. Three more bodies were recovered from Angro Dheri, and at Imam Dheri, 22 people trapped in the floodwaters were successfully rescued.

In Ghalegay, seven individuals were stranded—one body has been recovered, and search efforts for the remaining are underway. Similarly, reports indicate that seven individuals were trapped in Maniyar, where rescue operations are ongoing.

In Panjigram, one person remains stuck in floodwaters, and efforts to rescue him are in progress. Meanwhile, 20 to 30 people trapped in a flash flood in Bara Bama Khel, Matta, have been successfully rescued. Overall, the report states that a total of 75 individuals were stranded at various points along the Swat River near the bypass road. Timely rescue efforts saved 58 people, while eight bodies were recovered. As of the time of the report’s release, 10 individuals are still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing at eight different locations across Swat, with 105 personnel involved. The high intensity of the floodwaters is posing significant challenges to the rescue teams.

To prevent further incidents, all hotels, restaurants, and commercial activities near the Swat River have been closed. The provincial government emphasized that, due to monsoon rains, a Section 144 ban on recreational activities in rivers remains in effect throughout the province. The local administration has launched extensive awareness campaigns via various media platforms, urging tourists and the public to stay away from water channels and adopt precautionary measures.

The provincial government has once again appealed to the public and tourists to avoid entering river areas and to strictly follow the safety guidelines issued by the administration to prevent further tragedies.

“They went to take some selfies. There was not much water at that time. Suddenly floodwaters came and swept away the children. The water current was so strong that it looked like a dyke had been breached,” a relative of the family who did not give his name told Reuters TV.