SWAT – At least five tourists lost their lives and ten others remain missing after the swollen Swat River swept away a group of 18 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. Rescue teams managed to save three individuals from the powerful current.
Rescue officials confirmed that among the deceased were two children. Despite the deployment of 80 personnel, fast-flowing water continues to hamper the ongoing search and recovery efforts in the area.
The tragic incident occurred when a group of tourists, mostly from Punjab, was enjoying breakfast by the riverside. Suddenly, a surge of water caught them off guard and swept them away before they could react.
Adnan, a survivor from Daska, shared his grief, saying, “Four women and six children from my family were swept away by the floodwater, along with three others. It all happened in seconds.”
Authorities are urging tourists and locals to stay away from the riverbanks as water levels remain dangerously high due to recent rains. Efforts to locate the missing continue with the help of divers and local volunteers.
This heartbreaking event serves as a grim reminder of nature’s unpredictability, especially during the monsoon season, when rivers in northern Pakistan often become deadly torrents.