Credit: The Express Tribune

SWAT, PAKISTAN on Friday 27th June — A family picnic turned into a devastating tragedy on Friday when at least 18 members of a tourist group drowned after sudden flash floods swept through the Swat River in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local rescue officials.

The victims, part of an extended family visiting the popular mountain destination, were gathered by the riverside for a morning meal when fast-rising waters, triggered by heavy rainfall upstream, surged through the valley without warning. The group, which included several children, had been taking photographs along the water’s edge when the disaster struck, local authorities said.

Credit: Samaa TV

“A flash flood came roaring down the river, catching them completely off guard,” district administrator Shehzad Mahboob told reporters. “They were enjoying breakfast, the children were playing in the water, and within moments, the situation turned catastrophic.”

Rescue operations began immediately, though the sheer force of the floodwaters hampered early efforts. By late evening, at least 12 bodies had been recovered near the GE Qurban Hotel along the Swat Bypass, where the surging river left behind a trail of debris and destruction.

Credit: Business Standard

A harrowing video circulating on social media, which has not been independently verified, appeared to show members of the family clinging to one another as they struggled against the powerful currents. Bystanders could be seen attempting to assist from the riverbank as several were swept away.

The incident has cast a pall over the scenic Swat Valley, a region renowned for its lush alpine beauty and fast-flowing rivers that attract thousands of tourists each year, especially during the summer months when temperatures soar in the southern plains.

Credit: Deshsewak

Local officials have repeatedly warned visitors about the risks of sudden flash floods in the region, a hazard exacerbated in recent years by increasingly erratic monsoon patterns and melting snow from the surrounding Hindu Kush mountains. Despite these warnings, riverside picnics remain a common practice among tourists.

“This tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly nature can turn dangerous,” Mahboob said. “We urge all visitors to exercise caution near rivers and to heed weather advisories, especially during the monsoon season.”

Rescue teams, assisted by the military and local volunteers, continued their search along the riverbanks on Saturday, as families awaited word of missing loved ones. Authorities said the search would continue until all bodies were recovered.

Credit: The Voice Pakistan

The provincial government announced that compensation would be provided to the victims’ relatives and promised a review of tourist safety measures in the region.

For now, the banks of the Swat River, typically bustling with vacationers and vendors, remain eerily quiet, marked by grief and the lingering shock of an outing that ended in unimaginable loss.

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