Swat/Peshawar/Islamabad, June 27, 2025: At least nine people lost their lives and four remain missing after 17 individuals were swept away by a sudden flash flood in the Swat River early Friday morning, triggering a wave of grief and national concern.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob confirmed that nine bodies have been recovered while four individuals were rescued alive. Rescue efforts continue to locate the remaining four missing persons.
According to DC Mehboob, 10 of the victims were from Sialkot, six from Mardan, and one was a local resident of Swat. Rescue officials reported that the group from Sialkot was on a leisure trip and had stopped for breakfast by the river around 8 a.m. when a rapid surge in water, caused by heavy rains upstream, caught them off guard.
“These guests were sitting near the bypass when the sudden rise in water occurred. They were unaware of the incoming flood,” a rescue official stated.
A relative of the victims told media that 10 of his family members were swept away. “We were having breakfast and the children went near the river for a selfie. At that time, the river flow appeared normal,” he said tearfully. He further alleged that rescue teams arrived hours later and were unable to save several children who were still struggling in the water upon their arrival.
Despite the enforcement of Section 144, which prohibits bathing in or approaching the riverbanks, tourists continue to ignore the restrictions, lamented the Deputy Commissioner.
In response to the disaster, the Pakistan Army has been deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations. Equipped units are working alongside Rescue 1122 teams across affected areas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He ordered an immediate and comprehensive search operation and directed the NDMA and local authorities to enforce precautionary measures amid ongoing extreme weather conditions.
President Asif Ali Zardari also conveyed his sympathies, stating, “I express heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for patience and strength in this time of grief.”
Senator Sherry Rehman called the incident “an irreparable tragedy” and offered her support to affected families. “I pray for the success of ongoing rescue operations and the safety of those still missing,” she said.
The tragedy follows hours of intense overnight rainfall that has devastated areas across Swat and Lower Dir, causing widespread flooding in rivers, canals, and urban drainage systems.
In Lower Dir, heavy rain caused the Panjkora River to swell dangerously, trapping two children and two women—who were later rescued. An elderly man was also saved after being caught in a stormwater drain.
Rescue officials reported that at least 70 people were stranded at various locations across Swat. So far, 55 individuals have been rescued from life-threatening conditions, including 22 people from Imam Dherai, 30 from Bara Bamakhela Matta, and one from a high-flow water channel in Panjigram.
Tragically, ten individuals drowned near a hotel on Bypass Road, while three bodies were recovered from the Angro Dherai Canal and another from Ghalegay, where the search continues for six missing persons.
Authorities urge the public to avoid riverbanks and follow safety advisories as weather conditions remain volatile.
