In a tragic incident in northwest Pakistan, flash floods caused by early monsoon rains claimed the lives of at least eight tourists on Friday. The victims were swept away while picnicking by the Swat River in the picturesque Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Overall, the nationwide death toll from rain-related events soared to 18 over a 24-hour span, according to local officials.
Rescue operations involved nearly 100 personnel working tirelessly to save a total of 58 individuals from danger and continue searching for missing tourists. Shah Fahad, the spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, reported that only three members from a family of 16 were saved, with the remaining individuals still unaccounted for. Despite extended efforts, rescuers have recovered eight bodies as the search continues for the other 10 missing victims.
Optimizing online platforms, videos showing approximately a dozen stranded people on a small elevated island in the Swat River, fervently calling for help amid the rising floodwaters, have gone viral. Amid the ongoing crisis, Shah Fahad has reinforced government warnings concerning potential flash floods in the Swat River, part of the widely visited Swat Valley. This area attracts thousands of tourists year-round due to its stunning scenery.
In other regions, at least ten fatalities were recorded over the past 24 hours due to rain-related incidents in the eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces. As weather analysts predict, the rains are expected to persist throughout the week. Pakistan experiences its monsoon season annually from July to September.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed his sincere sympathy and grief concerning the tourists’ tragedy. He instructed authorities to bolster safety measures around rivers and streams to prevent such disasters. The country has been grappling with heavy rainfall since earlier in the week, leading to obstructed highways and damaged homes.
However, meteorologists predict that this year’s monsoon might not be as severe as 2022, when unprecedented rainfall resulted in overflowing rivers and submerged one-third of Pakistan at one point, causing the deaths of 1,739 people. Nonetheless, the situation remains critical as authorities and rescue teams continue their efforts to manage and mitigate the impact of the ongoing rains.