Abdul Salam, a resident of Daska in Sialkot district of Central Punjab, says his wife, two daughters, and a son have gone on a trip to Swat and other northern areas along with other family members, and tragically, all of them drown in Swat River
SWAT: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-June 27th, 2025) "I was told that my brother-in-law Muhammad Mohsin's family had met with an accident and that his children had been swept away in the water. For a moment, I froze, realizing that my wife and children were also with them. I started dialing numbers frantically on my mobile phone, but I couldn't reach my wife or children."
These were the words of Abdul Salam, a resident of Daska in the Sialkot district of Central Punjab, whose wife, two daughters, and a son had gone on a trip to Swat and other northern areas along with other family members. Tragically, all of them drowned in the Swat River.
According to Rescue 1122 in Swat, a total of 16 people were caught in the flash flood. Three people were rescued, while the bodies of nine have been recovered. Search efforts for the remaining are still ongoing.
Abdul Salam said he is now on his way to Swat. He works in Saudi Arabia as a laborer and had taken leave to come to Pakistan for the construction of his house. He shared, "Before going to Swat, my daughters insisted that I join them, saying it would be more fun if I came along too. But I declined, saying if I went, who would oversee the house construction?"
The family swept away in the Swat River belonged to Daska. They had left for Naran-Kaghan around 11 PM the previous night but changed their route and went to Swat instead.
Abdul Rehman, the father of Muhammad Mohsin who was driving the family, said, “A total of sixteen people left, including friends of my son Mohsin and their families. In the morning, Mohsin told us they had decided to go to Swat instead of Naran-Kaghan.”
He added, “We were in touch with them during breakfast, and everything was fine. But shortly afterward, when we spoke again, my daughter and son-in-law were crying. They only said the children had been swept away in the river.”
Abdul Rehman explained, “Among those who went to Swat were my daughter-in-law Rubina and her four daughters, all of whom drowned. My daughter Fauzia and her four daughters were also swept away. One daughter, her husband, and their four daughters survived.”
When contacted by phone, Muhammad Mohsin, who was with the family, said he was currently taking the bodies back to Sialkot by ambulance. Due to the trauma, he could only say, “It was my friend’s family from Sialkot.” He was unable to speak further.
Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar said that the group from Daska consisted of 35 people. Initial investigations revealed that Muhammad Mohsin had taken his family, his brother-in-law's family, two friends’ families, and others to Swat.
According to rescue officials, the affected family from Daska was having breakfast by the river when the water level suddenly rose due to rain. Sixteen members of the same family were swept away by the current.
Rescue 1122 received the drowning report around 8 am. The group was sitting near the riverbank at Mingora bypass and was unaware of the incoming floodwaters.
Rescue operations began immediately. Three people were saved, eight bodies recovered, and efforts continued to find the remaining victims. Among the deceased were five children.
The Deputy Commissioner of Swat told the media that Section 144 had been imposed, prohibiting people from bathing or approaching the river, but tourists still ignore the warnings.
Swat Mayor Shahid Ali Khan reached the riverbank where the tourists from Sialkot and Mardan were swept away in the flash flood. He said, “The current was so strong that those caught in it couldn’t comprehend what to do.”
He confirmed that several members of the same family from Sialkot were among those swept away, while three individuals from Mardan miraculously survived.
Shahid Ali Khan said, “The tourists had stopped on the riverbank to have breakfast. Some were in a nearby hotel while others went toward the river. One woman had gone to call them back, but the flood came so fast that no one could react. They stood on a mound hoping the water would recede, but it only rose higher.”
According to the mayor, eleven of the victims belonged to the Sialkot family and five to Mardan. “Within just 15 to 20 minutes, the flash flood came with such intensity that no one had time to react,” he said. The family from Sialkot had arrived in Swat on Friday morning.
