Four individuals have been rescued amid ongoing rescue efforts
SWAT/PESHAWAR/ Rescuers retrieved nine bodies from the Swat River on Friday after at least 17 tourists were swept away by a sudden surge of water level in the river this morning, prompting ongoing rescue efforts.
In a statement, Swat Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob confirmed that rescue authorities have recovered at least nine bodies and rescued four others alive while efforts were underway to locate the remaining four missing persons.Providing details of the victims, DC Mehboob stated that 10 of the individuals involved in the incident were residents of Sialkot, six belonged to Mardan, while one was a local resident of Swat.
According to rescue officials, the affected individuals hailing from Sialkot was on a leisure trip, having breakfast by the riverbank at around 8am when heavy rains upstream caused an unexpected and rapid increase in water flow.
The tragic incident occurred around 8am, leaving guests unaware of the looming danger.
“We received information about the drowning of these people around 8am. There were guests on the bypass who were sitting on the bank of the river. These people were not aware of the water relay,” a rescue official said.
Upon receiving the alert, a rescue operation was immediately launched.
While three individuals have been successfully pulled to safety and the bodies of five recovered, the search for the remaining missing family members continues amidst challenging conditions.
Deputy Commissioner Swat Shahzad Mehboob reiterated that Section 144, which prohibits bathing in and approaching the river, is in force.
He expressed concern that despite these restrictions, tourists continue to venture into dangerous areas.
A distraught tourist, who identified himself as a family member, recounted the harrowing ordeal, saying that 10 members of his immediate family were swept away, with the body of one woman found and the search for nine children still underway.
“We were having breakfast and drinking tea, and the children went to take a selfie near the river. At that time, there was not much water in the river,” he said.
He further explained that rescue officials arrived to the scene hours after the incident was reported and failed to rescue the children who were still struggling in the river when rescuers reached the location.
Multiple flood-related incidents in Swat has prompted the deployment of the Pakistan Army for rescue and relief operations.
Troops, fully equipped with necessary gear, have reached Swat and are actively participating in rescue and relief missions alongside Rescue 1122 personnel.
