SWAT – The body of Abdullah, a young boy from Sialkot who went missing in the Swat River, has been found after 21 days of intensive rescue efforts, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Abdullah had gone missing on June 27, when 17 members of his family were swept away by a sudden flash flood while picnicking near the riverbank in Swat. His body was recovered in the Barikot tehsil area of Swat district, following continuous efforts by Rescue 1122 Swat.
Officials said Abdullah was the last unaccounted-for victim of the tragic incident. The rescue teams had been working nonstop since the day of the tragedy. After completing legal formalities, Abdullah’s body will be taken to his hometown of Daska.
The incident shocked the nation, especially after distressing videos showed the family stranded on a small island of land surrounded by rising water. For nearly an hour, they called for help, but no rescue team reached them in time.
In response to the public outcry, the provincial government ordered an investigation. A 384-page inquiry report was submitted to the Peshawar High Court earlier this week. The report highlighted serious administrative failures and inadequate coordination among government departments.
It also noted that early weather warnings had been issued before the floods, but no preventive action was taken. The report blamed local authorities, including the district administration, the irrigation department, and the hotel owners, for negligence.
Statements from 10 government officials were included in the report. It detailed the actions taken before and after the tragedy, as well as disciplinary steps that followed. As a result, the deputy commissioner of Swat and three assistant commissioners were either suspended or made Officers on Special Duty (OSD).
The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa later ordered an anti-encroachment operation in the flood-hit areas. A special committee was also formed to implement the report’s recommendations and hold those responsible accountable.
Abdullah’s recovery marks the end of a painful search, closing a tragic chapter in one of Swat’s most heartbreaking river disasters.
The tragic incident began when 15 tourists were swept away by flash floods in the Swat River. Read the full report here: Flash Floods in Swat River Sweep Away 15 Tourists.
