Caught on Camera: 18 Family Members Swept Away in Pakistan’s Swat River; 12 Bodies Recovered

At least 18 members of a family, part of a tourist group, drowned on Friday after sudden flash floods swept through the Swat River in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to rescue officials cited by news agency PTI.

A video circulating on social media shows the family struggling against the strong river currents, with some individuals trying to save each other as they are carried away by the floodwaters. However, Hindustan Times has not independently verified the authenticity of the footage.

Recovery and Rescue Efforts

So far, 12 bodies have been recovered from different sites—six near the GE Qurban Hotel on the Swat Bypass, three at Angro Dheri, and three near the Relax Hotel. All the victims were part of the same tourist group that was caught off-guard by rapidly rising waters triggered by heavy rainfall upstream.

The provincial government launched a large-scale rescue operation, deploying 120 personnel across eight locations in Swat. Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, confirmed that approximately 80 people were initially stranded, with 63 rescued safely.

Precautionary Measures and Government Response

In response to the tragedy, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration ordered the closure of all hotels, restaurants, and commercial activities along the riverbanks. A strict ban on river-related recreational activities during the monsoon season remains in place.

Three local administrative officers were suspended for negligence following the incident. The flash floods also caused extensive property damage, affecting 56 homes—six of which were completely destroyed—according to the provincial disaster management authority.

Public awareness campaigns have since been launched, urging both tourists and residents to avoid rivers and adhere to safety protocols amid the ongoing monsoon season.

Ongoing Weather Concerns

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall and the risk of flash flooding through at least Tuesday. Last month, intense storms claimed at least 32 lives across the country, which has been battered by extreme weather events this year, including hailstorms and floods.

Home to over 240 million people, Pakistan remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, facing increasingly frequent and severe weather patterns linked to global climate change.