Multiple warnings issued to authorities about flashflood before Swat tragedy: report
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Residents gather, after tourists, who were on a picnic, were swept away by overflowing floodwaters in the Swat River, in Swat Valley, on June 27, 2025. — Reuters
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In the Swat River tragedy, a disturbing report of official negligence has surfaced as the fears of the death of 12 pakkinars are increasing in the Swat Valley.
The department’s report revealed that hours before Friday’s flash flood in the Swat River, which claimed valuable lives, the department repeatedly warned all concerned organizations as well as the deputy commissioners of Swat, Charsadda and Noshra.
On Friday, more than 17 people from a Sialkot family were carrying a picnic on a hill near the bank when they were washed away with a sudden increase in the Swat River.
The disturbing videos circulating on social media show that the family trapped on the rapidly shrinking patch of the earth, crying for an hour for help, immediately without any rescue response.
So far, 12 bodies have been recovered, including a child found in Charsadda on Sunday. The search is still underway because one person is missing.
The report states that the river flow in Khwazakila reached 6,738 cusecs on June 27 to 77,782 Cusecs. The first warning was issued at 8:41 am, in which all the concerned officials were informed – including Sweet, Charsadda, and now the Deputy Commissioner of Shusher.
The department continued to send a real -time update through WhatsApp and issued severe flood warning till 10:30 am. Repeated warnings were sent to DCS, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), ADC Relief, and other relevant agencies, which shows that the department has issued timely and comprehensive warnings.
According to the report, tourists from Khozakila entered the river when the water level was still normal but due to heavy rains, the flow increased rapidly.
It also noted that the accumulation of slit at the edge of the rivers since 2022 makes it easier for visitors to wide deep into the river, which increases the risk during a sudden increase.
In its recommendations, the Irrigation Department advised the rescue 1122 to equip flood prevention gear, ban access to tourist areas and allow hotel owners to allow visitors to go to the hazardous areas.
It also suggested that the local administration develops a policy to restrict tourists to safer areas and recommend the installation of additional telemetrical gauges in Madyan and Word to increase river level monitoring.
Failure in rescue efforts
Rescue services have been set on fire even after the Swat River tragedy. Despite being deployed at a distance of just 3 to 4 km from the site, it took 19 minutes and equipped with the rescue 1122 teams to reach, which lacked boats, ropes and trained divers. During the operation, the goods had to be ordered, it was too late to make a meaningful difference.
In addition, the attention has been drawn to encroachments along the edge of the river. Critics have questioned how the structure is allowed to be constructed within 200 feet of the river, violating the safety regulations.
Although the government has since started crackdown on such illegal structures, there are calls for accountability against the officials who issued any objection certificates (NOC) and building permits.
Observers emphasized that it should be performed without prejudice, regardless of the social and economic status of the affected people, to effective and accept the operation by the public.
In response to the incident, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has banned mining on the banks of the rivers and launched a widespread operation to remove illegal structures.
Authorities have now increased the pressure to resolve the systematic issues that have participated in the deadly event and to impose security and accountability reforms.
