Published July 6, 2025
SWAT:
On June 28, the summer sun rose over the Swat Valley to start a perfect day. SWAT was a favorite retreat for holidaymakers from all over the country who fled from the burning heat from urban centers, and was in the highest tourist season. The winding roads of the valley were filled with vehicles transporting families in search of cool breeze, views of the mountains and memories.
Around 1 p.m. 8, two families in Mingora’s Babozai area arrived among the many other travelers. One family came from Marran and the other had come from Sialkot. After a light breakfast at a hotel by the road, they went to a scenic place along the river Swat. With the water that flows gently nearby, the children laughed, the oldest sipped tea, and everyone posed for photos to catch moments of a memorable trip.
But danger built quietly in the sky above.
A sudden flash river
What began as a light drip soon turned into a heavy rainfall. Unaware of cloudburst warnings or weather warners, families continued to enjoy their river break. As the water level began to rise, they moved to what looked like higher soil – possibly more out of panic than strategy.
Eyewitnesses later noticed that the water level was no more than one foot deep – still low enough to go through to safety. But then came the flood. Within minutes, an increase in flow transformed the mild stream into a furious torrent. The Provisional High Earth was shrouded and the families were swept away.
Only three people survived. Fourteen was lost in a matter of minutes.
Could it be prevented?
The tragedy triggered nationwide grief and anger. Many people questioned whether this was simply a natural disaster – or something that could have been avoided with better foresight and response.
Hazrat Ali Bacha, a senior journalist based in SWAT, pointed to serious administrative lapses. “Babozai is not a designated tourist site. These families just stopped on their way to Kalam,” he said. “They were caught for almost an hour. A trained, properly equipped rescue team could have saved them.”
Bacha also revealed a troubled infrastructure error. “The district government had recently built a jogging track along the river. To do so, a contractor temporarily redirected the stream of water with a wall – which was never run after the project ended. During the rain, the wall collapsed and redirected the full force of the river to where the tourists stood.”
He added that local rescue units, especially rescue 1122, were not only slow with shopping, but inadequately prepared – claimed that many of its staff were recruited based on political affiliation, not profit.
The right first respondents
As the official reaction wavered, local heroes entered. Hilal, a well -known local fisherman and diver, had just returned from saving seven people elsewhere when someone informed him of the unfolding tragedy in Babozai.
“When I arrived, Diver Asmat prepared his fleet. We pulled it together and managed to save three people,” Hilal remembered. “Later I found two bodies. I’m the heart bridge, I didn’t come there before.”
Hilal is not a voluntary random – rescue work runs in his family. His father served as a local lifeguard and fishing for 35 years. Today, Hilal and his brothers continue this legacy.
He was also critical of standard rescue equipment. “Inflatable boats with rotors are useless in the Swat River – it’s too low and rocky. We still use the traditional ‘jala’ (wooden fleet) that works far better here.”
Hilal and Asmat were later invited to the Governor’s House and praised in public for their courage. Behind Accolades, however, is a troubled truth: Those without uniforms are often the ones who do the most critical work.
Rescue 1122 responds
Facing public control, Director -General Director Rescue 1122 Shah Fahad defended his department’s actions.
“The Swat River on a normal day has a discharge of 3,000 to 4,000 CUSERCS. That Friday it rose to 77,000 CuseC in just 45 minutes. This was an extreme flash river,” he explained.
Fahad recognized an important delay in the rescue response: The first emergency call received at 1 p.m. 9.49, reported mistakenly that tourists were caught in a hotel. “We sent an ambulance. When it turned out to be an emergency in the water, we first sent the relevant team. The misconception cost us time.”
He rejected claims that rescue 1122 was poorly equipped. “We have both inflatable boats and ‘Jala’ fleets, life jackets and trained divers,” he said. “We have also collected CCTV recordings and videos from the locals to reconstruct what happened.”
Government action and public setback
The tragedy triggered an immediate administrative response from the provincial government. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, adviser to Chief Minister on Information, confirmed that disciplinary actions had been taken.
“The main minister suspended assistant commissioners for Babozai and Khwazakhela, the extra Deputy Commissioner (Relief) and the District Manager for Rescue 1122,” said Saif. “A full investigation has been launched by the Chief Minister’s inspection team.”
Saif also detailed new government initiatives in response: a complete ban on riverbed mining in swat; A crash on intervention including hotels built too close to the river; Implementation of modern rescue tools such as drones and life jackets; Establishing a total response center in SWAT; Mobile patrol units along river banks throughout the Malakand Division; and a reassessment of the irrigation of the irrigation department.
He added that over 75 stranded individuals were rescued from different parts of the valley in the hours after the flood and that financial compensation was distributed to affected families.
“The minister personally visited the families to offer compassion,” Saif said. “Although we cannot prevent natural disasters, we are obliged to ensure that negligent officials are held responsible.”
A system on the edge
Despite insurance policies, many locals believe these are reactive measures – too little, too late. Year after year, the Monsoon season exposes, where stretched and under the resource province’s relief services really is.
In many areas, rescue 1122 staff are not trained for specific terrain such as the Rocky Swat River. Equipment is often unsuitable or outdated. In Wildfire Nuto situations, respondents have even been seen trying to turn off flames using the wooden branches.
There is also no consistent deployment of officers along rivers during the flooding seasons. Mobilization of local volunteers like Hilal could bridge this hole-but it requires long-term planning, which critics say there are still missing.
“This is not just about a bad day. It’s about a system that has not been built to withstand the realities of this region,” Bacha said.
Failed infrastructure
The floods also highlighted a long -term problem: the fragility of modern infrastructure. Across SWAT and much of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, roads, bridges, and coaling are routinely under the strain of heavy rain. Narrative remains many of the bridges built under the British colonial rule over a century ago, standing, while newer built just 10-15 years ago is crumbling.
This is not just a matter of UFLAKS – it reflects questionable construction practices, lack of supervision and compromised quality in public works. The consequences are deadly.
Each destroyed bridge or collapsed road during a flood is not only a logistical disadvantage – it is a lifeline cut off, often at the worst possible moment.
A tourist place or death trap?
Swat Valley has long drawn travelers with its breathtaking beauty, rich history and hospitality. But any disaster like this chips away by its reputation. When security is not guaranteed, tourists will think twice – and the local economy that is very dependent on tourism will suffer.
Yet in the middle of heartache there is also hope. The tragedy has given rise to long -term conversations about rescue capacity, climate consumption and infrastructure integrity. Whether these conversations are translated into lasting reform is not yet to be seen.
A man -made crisis?
What happened in Babozai on June 28 was not just a freak nature. It was the result of Cascading -Fiaskos – ignored warnings, incomplete projects and systemic neglect.
The water came quickly. But the holes in the system built for years.
When swat begins to heal, one truth remains: If real reform does not follow this tragedy, the next one is only a monsoon away.
Riaz Ahmad is a freelance journalist and contributor
All facts and information is the author’s sole responsibility
