Swat — In a heartbreaking tragedy, 18 tourists mostly from Daska, Punjab lost their lives after a powerful river surge swept them away near the Mingora Bypass. The group had been enjoying a family retreat when the river suddenly swelled, catching them off guard. What began as a joyous outing quickly turned into a nightmare. As a result, the Swat flood tragedy has triggered nationwide grief and renewed calls for urgent safety reforms.
Deadly Flood Claims Lives as Monsoon Intensifies
Rescue 1122 Director General Shah Fahad confirmed that teams have recovered five bodies so far. Meanwhile, 80 personnel are actively conducting search operations across five different sites. They managed to rescue one person alive. The victims, tragically including children as young as three, belonged to an extended family from Daska, led by Abdul Rehman.
Heavy monsoon rains and accelerated glacial melt triggered flash flooding that caused the Swat River to overflow with devastating force. Furthermore, urban flooding hit multiple areas of Mingora city Haji Baba, Mullah Baba, Landikas, Amankot, and Qambar City Center where floodwaters entered homes and marketplaces.
Climate Warnings Ignored Amid Weather Extremes
Amid record-high temperatures and shifting climate patterns, the region has seen a sharp rise in glacial melting. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) had already issued warnings of potential Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Upper Swat. Nevertheless, tourists continued to gather near unsafe riverbanks.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that more heavy rainfall is expected in the next 24 hours. Districts such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, and others face a heightened risk of flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding. In response, PDMA advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and directed local administrations to activate emergency preparedness plans.
Public Mourning and Calls for Accountability
Rescue efforts remain ongoing. In the meantime, the district administration has imposed a complete ban on swimming in the Swat River. Assistant Commissioner Usman Ghani visited the grieving families in Daska to express condolences on behalf of the district government.
On social media, citizens expressed sorrow and outrage, demanding stricter regulations and improved safety measures in tourist zones vulnerable to natural disasters.
Furthermore, climate journalist Arif Ahmad emphasized that climate change and heatwaves are fueling these extreme weather events. He noted that Swat’s melting glaciers are a visible symptom of the region’s worsening environmental instability.
Therefore, this Swat flood tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action, disaster readiness, and enforceable safety regulations in high-risk tourist areas.
