VIDEO: Nine dead, many missing as floodwaters sweep away 18 from same family in Pakistan's Swat Valley
- Last updated: June 27, 2025 | 14:45
Rescue teams recovered nine bodies from the Swat River on Friday after a sudden surge in water swept away at least 18 members of a single family from Sialkot district of Punjab province. The family had been enjoying a riverside breakfast when the water level rose unexpectedly due to heavy rainfall upstream.
Three people were rescued alive, while efforts to locate the remaining missing individuals continue under difficult conditions, rescue officials confirmed.
The family was having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River and the children were in the water taking photos when the sudden flood hit, district administrator Shehzad Mahboob said.
Relatives rushed in but were also caught up in the deluge which had been swollen by monsoon rains, he added.
It was still too early to say how many children and how many adults had died, Mahboob told Reuters. Nine bodies have been recovered so far, he said.
Four members of the family were rescued alive and another four are still missing.
The family group were tourists from Sialkot visiting the Swat Valley, local mayor Shahid Ali Khan said. Locals and more than 80 rescue workers were searching for survivors, rescue official Shah Fahad said.
The incident took place around .. near a bypass area along the riverbank. According to rescue teams, the family was unaware of the danger posed by the rising water levels. A sudden deluge overwhelmed them, dragging many into the fast-flowing river.
“We received the report around 8 a.m. and immediately launched a rescue operation,” said a rescue official. “The guests were sitting by the river and didn’t realize the water surge was coming.”
Authorities reiterated that Section 144 — a law prohibiting entry into or near the river — remains in effect. Despite this, tourists often ignore the restrictions, officials noted with concern.
A grieving relative recounted that ten of his immediate family members had been swept away, including several children. One woman’s body has been recovered, but nine children remain missing.
“We were having tea and breakfast, and the children had gone to take selfies near the river,” the man said. “There wasn’t much water at the time, but it all changed so quickly.”
He also criticized the response time of rescue officials, alleging they arrived too late to save the children still struggling in the water.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending his condolences to the affected families and ordering an urgent search for those still missing. He also directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local administrations to implement and enforce precautionary measures, especially near rivers, in light of the country’s worsening weather conditions.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed heartfelt condolences, praying for the departed and for strength for the grieving families.
Senator Sherry Rehman called the event an “irreparable tragedy,” offering her sympathies and expressing hope that more people could be saved as rescue operations continue.
The tragedy follows a night of torrential rain that caused severe flooding in various parts of Swat and Lower Dir. In Lower Dir, the swollen Panjkora River trapped several individuals, including two children and two women, all of whom were later rescued. An elderly person was also saved from a rainwater channel.
A rescue official confirmed that five individuals were rescued from dangerous flood-related situations in Lower Dir.
Meanwhile, in Swat, rescue operations have been underway throughout the day. Authorities said that at least 70 people were initially reported trapped by the rising waters. So far, 55 have been safely evacuated from various flood-affected areas.
Tens of thousands of tourists, mostly from other parts of Pakistan, visit the north's peaks and glaciers every year during the summer travel season.