Flash flooding triggered by a sudden rise in the SWAT River and other streams in the district after heavy monsoon rains on Friday claimed the lives of at least 10 people, while several others remain missed, according to provincial rescue officials and eyewitnesses.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) described the level of flooding as “very high,” while officials said dozens of people were caught as authorities encrypted to deal with the wake of two days of relentless rainfall.

The river swollen dramatically after the heavy rain and swept away with 19 tourists – including women and children – who had gathered in a rocky area along the river bank near the bypass road. Rescuers only managed to save three people, while 10 bodies were recovered later in the day.

Eyewitnesses described a scary scene: The water rose rapidly and surrounded the tourists within moments and did not leave them time to escape. The victims belonged to two families who had traveled to the popular tourist destination from Sialkot and Marran.

Rescue 1122, in coordination with the district administration and the local police, transported the bodies to Saidu Teaching Hospital. The deceased was identified as Umda (18), Muhammad Ayan (7), Rubina (45), Sharme (16), Tazmeen (18), Aima (10) and Merab (17) – everything from Sialkot. Two other victims, Farman and Eshyal, were from Marran.

In response, the district administration imposed an immediate emergency in the area and urged the public to avoid walking near the river. Rescue teams were deployed in key spaces, with additional diving units sent to help with search and recovery operation.

According to officials, dozens remained stranded in flooding areas. PDMA classified the situation as “very high alarm”, while more people were rescued and moved to safer placements in Mam Dherai, Ghaligay and other parts of SWAT.

Media reports citing senior provincial officials indicated that 18 people were still missing. A statement from Chief Secretary Shehab Ali Shah in Peshawar revealed that more than 75 people were caught in different places; Of these, 58 had been saved successfully.

In response to the evolving situation, the provincial government created under Directives from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur a special flood cell. PDMA also issued warnings to Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera authorities to stiffen for the potential impact of flooding water from SWAT.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of life. Both leaders offered compassion for the deprived families and instructed National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to work closely with local agencies to ensure effective security and relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Center Center (NEOC) from NDMA issued a counseling on fresh weather that warned of more heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Peshawar, Bannu and Waziristan Districts.

Neoc also predicts widespread monsoon activity over Punjab and Sindh over the next 48 hours. “Heavy rain is expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Tharparkar, Badin, Umerkot and other districts,” it says.

The counseling also warned of strong wind and rainfall in the upper and central Punjab, including Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Mianwali.

The city’s flood in major cities and landslides in mountainous regions was also considered likely due to the intensity of the weather system.

Retreat turns to tragedy

An extended family from Daska on a recreational excursion near Fizagat in SWAT was caught by guard when a sudden tidal wave swept 18 tourists, most of them relatives.

The group, led by Abdul Rehman of Daska Kalan, included several family members: Rubeena Kausar, his daughter -in -law; Abdullah (15); Tazmeen (21); Sharming (19); His daughter Fauzia, her husband Mohsin, and their daughters Meerab (17), Ajwa (15), Ice Hall (13) and Anfal (9).

Another daughter, Ayesha, wife of Shehbaz, was also missing with their children – Aima (12), and sons Ayaan (9), Ziyan (5) and Zohan (3).

The group was allegedly with another family when the flash flood hit. As they stood at the river bank, they were caught by the powerful stream.

Rescuers, along with local volunteers, immediately launched search operations.

Among the recovered victims is Meerab, another year of the year; Ajwa, a matric student; Eyan (6), Son of Shehbaz; a doctor; A Mothers Cousin; and Tobina Islam, sister -in -law of Mohsin.

What began as a happy summer reinforcement turned into an unimaginable tragedy. The relentless stream of the river left some time to respond, and Daska is now in mourning, with whole neighborhoods mourning the loss of their loved ones.

In response to the tragic loss, Assistant Commissioner Usman Ghani from Daska visited the deprived families to expand condolences on behalf of the district administration.

The devastating incident has given rise to widespread indignation and grief on social media, where citizens demand immediate security protocols to be introduced along Riverbanks.

There have been growing demands for increased awareness and regulation in tourist hotspots that are prone to such natural dangers.