Swat drownings highlight rescue failure

Inquiry report paints a grim picture of the state of disaster mismanagement in K-P

PESHAWAR:

Tourists visit picturesque locations with the hopes of making unforgettable memories. But when the wrath of nature and the indifference of authorities join hands to lure in tragedy, tourist escapades can cast an indelible mark on the collective memory of the nation.

60-year-old Roohul Amin, a miraculous survivor of the tragic Swat river incident, remembered four of his deceased family members with tears rolling down his face. "We were crying for help, but no one came to rescue us. We waited for over an hour after the water level started slowly increasing but neither any official nor Rescue 1122 came forward to save us. My survival is nothing short of a miracle," tearfully shared Amin.

Eyewitnesses and survivors described scenes of utter chaos as the river current pulled people away while bystanders stood powerless. Some locals attempted to help using ropes or makeshift rafts, but without professional support or equipment, their efforts were largely in vain. Families of the victims have expressed outrage over the government's failure to act in time, calling it a "murder by negligence."

As per a detailed fact-finding inquiry conducted by the K-P government, the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 18 people at the Swat River on June 27th has now been officially attributed to gross negligence and systemic failures. The victims, including women and children, drowned near the Bahrain area after being swept away by sudden surges of river water while helplessly crying for rescue. The scene, which was captured in harrowing videos shared widely over social media, showed the desperate final moments of the victims clinging to rocks and branches, waving for help that never arrived.

The inquiry report has painted a grim picture of the state of disaster mismanagement in K-P. Despite the fact that the area is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the summer months, the report revealed that the local administration and emergency services were neither equipped nor adequately trained to handle water-related emergencies. On the day of the incident, rescue teams arrived either too late or without the necessary equipment. Rescue boats were missing or non-functional, and the few personnel present lacked swift-water rescue training.

What makes the tragedy even more horrifying is the fact that it was entirely preventable. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had issued timely warnings about potential flash floods in the upper Swat region due to monsoon rains. However, the district administration failed to issue any safety advisories, restrict movement near the riverbanks, or take preventive measures despite clear and present danger. The report highlighted that not even a single warning sign was installed in the area while tourist activities were allowed to continue unchecked. This inaction, the inquiry concluded, directly contributed to the high death toll.

The committee that compiled the report held multiple stakeholders responsible, including Rescue 1122, the district administration, local police, and the tourism department. It noted with concern that there was no coordination between departments, and in some cases, officials shifted blame to each other rather than responding effectively. The findings have reflected a troubling trend of unaccountability and poor disaster preparedness, even in areas known to be prone to natural hazards.

Subhanullah, a local journalist hailing from Swat believed that the tragic incident demonstrated the failure of local departments and the K-P government. "In other countries, helicopters are used to rescue even animals stuck in floods but in Swat, people were crying for help, but no one was ready to rescue them. Even as the government seeks to boost tourism in the province, this incident will repel any tourists. Suspending just the Assistant Commissioner and lower staff is not the solution. Rescue 1122, the Irrigation Department and local administration should be brought under the law so that such an incident does not happen again," said Subhanullah.