ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The death toll from the tragic Swat River incident climbed to 10 on Saturday as rescue teams recovered another body amid an ongoing search for three missing individuals. The development has sparked political backlash, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi publicly calling for Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation.
Flash Flood Turns Leisure Trip Into Tragedy
The incident occurred on Friday morning when a group of tourists gathered for breakfast along the banks of the Swat River in Mingora. At approximately 8 a.m., a sudden surge in water—triggered by upstream rainfall—engulfed the area. Nine bodies were initially recovered, while four individuals were rescued. The 10th body was found Saturday morning, intensifying calls for accountability.
According to officials, seven bodies and the survivors have been transferred to Daska, with the deceased laid to rest in Daska Kalan, Lalarian, and Mohallah Mohammadpura. Funeral prayers have been offered for at least eight of the victims.
Governor Blames Government for Delay
In a strongly worded statement posted on social media platform X, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi slammed the provincial administration’s response as “a shameful failure of duty.”
“This is not just incompetence. It is a shameful failure of duty,” Kundi wrote.
In a separate video message, he urged CM Gandapur—who also holds the tourism portfolio—to “show moral courage and resign without delay.”
Public Outcry Over Delayed Rescue Effort
Widespread outrage erupted online after videos showed stranded tourists, including women and children, trapped on a shrinking island in the middle of the river. With no immediate rescue response, bystanders recorded the heart-wrenching scenes as the group slowly disappeared into the rising waters.
Social media was flooded with criticism, as citizens and political figures decried the lack of timely intervention.
Government Initiates Inquiry, PM Orders Action
The KP government has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the causes of the incident, identify responsible parties, and assess potential institutional failures.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local administrations to accelerate the search operation and issue public safety alerts near rivers and streams, particularly during ongoing extreme weather conditions.
