Peshawar: Flash floods triggered by heavy rains wreaked havoc in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A sudden surge in the Swat River claimed the lives of at least 17 people after a group of tourists, including 18 members of the two families, were swept away in the Swat River. The incident was captured on camera and its video soon went viral on social media.
The Deputy Commissioner of Swat, Shahzad Mehboob, confirmed that 17 of the two tourist families died after 18 of them were carried away by flash floods on Friday in the Swat River. The incident occurred in the Fizagat area, where the members of two families were having breakfast near the riverbank when a sudden rise in the water level swept away many of them, local media reported.
According to reports, the family of 18 members went for a picnic at the Swat Valley tourist destination. There was a sudden surge in the water level of the river. The tourists did not get time to escape. They waited for two hours for the authorities to save them.
However, as the water level kept on increasing, the tourists were swept away in the current. The family was from Sialkot. Rescuers confirmed that at least seven people, including children, died in the incident, reported Wion. There people were reportedly rescued while others are still missing.
Video Of The Incident (Disturbing Visuals, Viewers Discretion Required):
Authorities have warned people to follow the warning given by the government and avoid visiting such tourist places, especially in the Swat Valley.
One of the survivors recounted a horrific incident while talking to Pakistan’s Geo News. “We were having breakfast and drinking tea, and the children went to take a selfie near the river. At that time, there was not much water in the river," he told Geo News. He further alleged that rescuers arrived after the incident took place.
Flash Floods In Pakistan:
A total of 11 people lost their lives and six others were injured after torrential rains triggered sudden flash floods in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The flooding caused a sharp rise in the Swat River, leading to widespread damage. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the casualties, as local media reported extensive rescue and relief operations underway in the affected areas, reported IANS. The disaster management authority termed the flood level "very high," as officials reported that dozens remained trapped while authorities went into action to deal with the aftermath of two days of continuous rainfall.
