On June 27, 2025, a sudden surge of water in the Swat River near the Mingora Bypass caught a group of tourists from Daska off guard. Eighteen people went into the river; seven bodies have been recovered and seven more remain missing. Rescue teams managed to pull three survivors to safety. Witnesses say the group was taking photos when raging water rushed downstream without warning.
Response by Authorities
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 service dispatched eighty personnel to the scene. They worked alongside local volunteers and Pakistan Army units that arrived shortly after the initial alert. The army has brought boats and life jackets and has pledged to send more help if needed. The Rescue 1122 director said every minute counts when dealing with swift currents.
Section 144 had been in place along the river since June 2 to stop people from getting too close to rising water levels. Officials registered forty five violations before this tragedy. Local administrators now face an inquiry to find out if they did enough to keep visitors out of harm’s way.
Eyewitness Account
Family members shared their story in an interview. They described setting up breakfast on a nearby bank when some children and adults moved closer for selfies. “The water came up so fast we had no time to warn them,” said one relative. They watched in horror as loved ones fought the current without a chance to cling to anything solid.
Rescuers struggled to reach the victims because strong currents carried bodies downstream faster than they could follow. Several boats capsized in the process.
Victim Details
Six of the deceased have been named. They include a Sialkot man Abdul Salam’s wife and two daughters Shermin and Tazmin. Another family lost Mohsin’s wife and daughter Mariam along with a young boy Muhammad Ayan. Two children from Mardan were also found. Families still wait for news on seven people whose names have not yet been released.
Ongoing Rescue Operations
Search and rescue efforts continue at multiple sites along the bypass road and in nearby areas like Sangota and Ghaligay. Teams use drones and underwater cameras to scan for bodies. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has raised its alert level after water flow jumped above seventy seven thousand cusecs. Hotels and restaurants by the river have been ordered closed to prevent more people from venturing into danger.
Official Inquiry and Accountability
Malakand Division Commissioner Abid Wazir announced a formal probe into possible negligence. He noted that authorities had issued a flood warning but failed to enforce it strictly. Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan demanded a police report against district officials and accused them of ignoring prior alerts from the National Disaster Management Authority. Families also claim that rescue crews arrived without proper gear and delayed their efforts for over an hour.
Personal Analysis
I feel this tragedy shows how easily rules can be ignored until lives are lost. Warnings and signs mean little if nobody enforces them. Too often local leaders assume a few barriers will keep people back. In reality, clear messaging must be backed by patrols and real barriers. And rescue teams must train with the right boats and equipment before an emergency. Only then can we hope to save more lives when rivers rise.
Sources: SAMAA TV
