hawaja Irfan, hailing from Mingora, recalls the harrowing scene he encountered at Fizagat, Swat, where a flash flood turned a riverside into a deadly trap for unsuspecting tourists. On June 27, at 8am, the flow of water was normal. An hour later it rose suddenly. A family was trapped in the middle of the river. “We were shouting out to them to move to the other side of the river, where the flow was still low. They were reluctant to make the decision because they were accompanied by children. At around 9:30am, the water level rose further; we attempted a rescue, but it didn’t work.”

Adnan Bacha, a journalist from Mingora, arrived at the scene when only six of the tourists were visible. They were stranded in the middle of the river. “The rest had already been swept away by the raging waters. The current was so strong that untrained people were unable to offer any help,” he says. Bacha says that rescue teams arrived late. “An ambulance came first, followed by the water rescue team. But by the time they arrived, it was too late,” he adds.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi told The News on Sunday that the tragedy occurred near Relax Hotel, along the Swat Bypass, when a powerful flash flood suddenly surged through the Swat River, trapping a group of tourists. “At least 17 individuals were caught in the floodwaters. Four were rescued alive, 12 bodies were recovered, and one tourist from the Punjab remains missing. Among the deceased, 10 were from Daska and three were residents of Mardan,” he said. Search for the missing individual was on till the filing of the report. Faizi said that around 80 people, including tourists and locals, were rescued from various flood-hit locations in Swat that day.

According to Rescue 1122, an initial alert was received at 9:49am. It was initially classified as a medical emergency. An ambulance arrived at 9:56am, but upon assessing the situation, it became evident that a water rescue operation was needed. A specialised team was then dispatched. Its arrival was delayed due to the heavy water-rescue vehicle and poor access conditions caused by rain.

The river current was dangerously strong, making inflatable boats useless. The team improvised using locally sourced tubes. Despite trained personnel and modern equipment, Rescue 1122 faces challenges in predicting and responding to natural disasters of such magnitude. Swat district currently hosts six to eight operational rescue stations, each equipped with rescue boats. Five trained divers are deployed across various units. Local volunteers often assist during emergencies.

Flash floods in Swat River, typically fuelled by heavy rainfall or glacial melt in Kalam and Bahrain, surged unexpectedly this time from Matta, Khwazakhela and Malam Jabba streams, catching residents, tourists and local authorities off guard. The torrent struck with alarming speed. Although an Early Flood Warning System is installed at Khwazakhela, the Irrigation Department’s alert, issued early in the morning as water levels began to rise, failed to prompt immediate action from the administration. The resulting delay in rescue efforts led to a significant loss of life.

Residents believe that prompt action could have saved many. Speaking to TNS, residents voiced concerns about the worsening condition of the riverbed.

On the day of the tragedy, tourists standing on a makeshift road were taken by surprise when a powerful surge of rainwater rushed down the valley. “They didn’t realise they were standing in the middle of the river until it was too late,” Bacha says.

“Swat River used to flow evenly but in recent years, unregulated mining has left the riverbed uneven, diverting its course at several points,” says Bacha. Once visible from key tourist spots like Mingora, the river is now obscured in several areas due to unchecked encroachments along its banks.

Adnan Bacha blames the unchecked operations of the sand mafia for weakening the river’s natural flow. “These groups have illegally piled sand and rocks in the riverbed and created access roads across the river to reach them,” he says. Tourists, unaware of the danger, often venture onto these paths, mistaking them for safe riverbanks.

On the day of the tragedy, tourists standing on such a road were taken by surprise when a powerful surge of rainwater rushed down the valley. “They didn’t realise they were standing in the middle of the river until it was too late,” Bacha says.

In response to the tragedy, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has suspended several officials, including the assistant commissioners of Babuzai and Khwazakhela, the additional deputy commissioner for relief, and the district head of Rescue 1122. Deputy commissioner of Swat has been directed to report to Establishment Department.

In the wake of the tragedy, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah paid a visit to Swat, inspecting the site along Mingora Bypass, where he was briefed by officials. At a high-level meeting held at the Commissioner’s Office in Saidu Sharif, attended by provincial ministers, advisors, bureaucrats and public representatives, the chief secretary announced emergency directives immediately banning all types of mining within the Swat River’s bed. A grand operation against illegal encroachments and unregulated hotels along the Swat and Panjkora Rivers was also announced along with the installation of an early warning system in the Swat River within a week.

An upgrade of Rescue 1122 equipment, including the provision of drones, life jackets and modern rescue tools to improve response time and efficiency; regular joint patrolling of riverbanks by police, irrigation and rescue departments to prevent illegal activities and responding swiftly to future emergencies was announced by Shahab Ali Shah.

A special inquiry team has begun formally investigating the incident. Authorities have said those found responsible will be held accountable under law.

Two days after the incident, a massive anti-encroachment operation was launched on the chief secretary’s directives. Personnel from Rescue 1122, the Irrigation Department, police and district administration participated in the campaign. The operation began at Kanju Ayub Bridge and extended to Fizagat, clearing at least 49 illegally occupied sites along the banks of Swat River.

This is not the first such disaster in the province. Similar incidents have occurred in previous years, yet authorities have failed to implement lasting preventive measures.

Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Mardan, says the Swat River tragedy is not just a story of flash floods, it is also a sobering reflection of institutional delay, unchecked exploitation of natural resources and climate vulnerability. “In the aftermath of tragedies like Swat, Pakistan’s bureaucracy often responds with visible urgency. But the real test of will is what happens two or three months later when political pressure, mafia’s influence and financial interests start eroding the state’s resolve,” he says.

Meteorological agencies have forecast that the 2025 monsoon will be hotter and wetter than usual across South Asia. According to the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum, average temperatures are expected to rise by 0.5 degree Celsius to 2 degree Celsius, and above-normal rainfall is predicted across South Asia, which is warming at twice the global average.

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets @daudpasaney