By Wasif Ali Khan
TWA
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SWAT, PAKISTAN – At least nine people from a single family were killed when a sudden flash flood, triggered by pre-monsoon rains, swept through a riverside picnic spot in northern Pakistan’s Swat Valley on Friday.
According to district administrator Shehzad Mahboob, the victims were part of an extended family of 16 visiting from outside the region. As children played and took photos in the Swat River, a powerful surge of water struck without warning. Family members rushed in to help but were quickly overwhelmed by the torrent, intensified by ongoing seasonal rains.
Mahboob confirmed that nine bodies had been recovered while four people were rescued. Four others remain missing.
Provincial emergency spokesperson Shah Fahad said nearly 100 rescuers were deployed in the search operation and had saved 58 people overall from the river.
He urged the public to observe official warnings, reminding that the Swat River — a popular tourist destination — is particularly hazardous during the monsoon season.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident and directed officials to enhance public safety measures along rivers and streams.
Elsewhere in the country, rescue services reported at least 10 additional fatalities from rain-related accidents in Punjab and Sindh provinces in the last 24 hours.
Heavy rainfall has lashed several parts of Pakistan this week, disrupting traffic, damaging homes, and raising alarms ahead of the monsoon’s peak. Meteorologists say this year’s monsoon will likely bring less rainfall than the devastating 2022 season, which left over 1,700 dead and submerged vast regions.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rains are forecast to persist through the coming days.
