Ace archer among Swabi cloudburst victims

In a heartrending tragedy, renowned local archer Anwar Zeb lost his life along with his three children in the devastating cloudburst that struck Dalori Bala village in Swabi district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recently.

Anwar Zeb, who had returned from Saudi Arabia only a month ago, was staying in the village to meet his brother, who was expected to arrive from London next month. Fate, however, had other plans.

Known as one of the most skilled archers in local "Makhha" competitions, Zeb had brought pride to Dalori just two days before the disaster by winning a semi-final match and securing a trophy for his village. A day later, disaster struck when boulders and torrents of water from the mountains crashed onto his home during the cloudburst. His three children were buried under the rubble, and five members of his family, including Zeb himself, perished.

"Anwar was the pride of our village. He not only excelled in archery but was also a talented rabab player. His sudden death has left not just Dalori but also the people of Gandaf, Gadoon and Bada in grief," said his friend Iqdar.

Villagers spent three days clearing the debris outside his house, hoping against hope that he might still be alive. However, his body, along with those of his children, was recovered during the rescue operation, plunging the village into deeper sorrow.

Dalori, once celebrated for its lush pastures and breathtaking mountains, now bears scars of destruction. "I have never seen such a disaster before. The sudden surge of water, followed by massive boulders, was beyond imagination," said Ibrahim, a youth from Gandaf who had been visiting Dalori daily since the tragedy.

Rescue teams worked tirelessly for three days, initially hampered by washed-out roads that delayed heavy machinery. Using small tools and cutters, rescuers labored through the night and managed to save four people alive from under the debris. Personnel of the army also joined the efforts. Relief items including food, blankets, and non-food supplies were dispatched by PDMA on the very first day.

By the third day, 41 bodies had been recovered from the rubble, and the rescue operation was declared complete. Villagers, overwhelmed with grief, expressed deep gratitude to the rescue teams, Al-Khidmat Foundation volunteers, the district administration, and army personnel for their relentless efforts in the face of the catastrophe.