Twisted river

On a stormy morning in Swat last week, a haunting image emerged: a family of tourists stranded on a narrow strip of land, surrounded by the raging Swat River. That family was slowly swept away by a flash flood. No rescue team arrived. No helicopter was sent. No official stood by. This was not the first tragedy of its kind and, heartbreakingly, it will not be the last. The Swat River, a lifeline for the valley, has been transformed into a danger zone due to unchecked sand and gravel mining, which has altered its natural flow. These commercial extractions benefit contractors and officials but come at the cost of public safety. Tragically, it now functions as a death trap, especially during monsoon season.

Azmat Ullah

Islamabad