Widespread public anger and sorrow erupted on Friday following the drowning of at least seven members of a family from Sialkot, including women and children, in the Swat River. The tragic event unfolded in full view of bystanders, as disturbing videos showed the family stranded on a small island surrounded by rapidly rising floodwaters, with no rescue efforts in sight for hours.
According to Rescue 1122, the family of 18 had stopped to have breakfast along the riverbank in the Mingora area when a sudden surge in water flow, caused by upstream rainfall, swept over them around 8 a.m. Only three members were rescued, while recovery efforts for the rest are still ongoing.
Videos widely circulated on social media captured the stranded group clinging to a shrinking patch of land in the middle of the river, as spectators watched helplessly from the shore. No rescue boats or officials arrived for hours, as the group was slowly consumed by the current.
The footage and perceived inaction sparked a torrent of criticism from citizens, journalists, and political figures, who condemned the delayed and inadequate response.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) posted:
“An entire family was left waiting for help, but no one came. The silence was deadlier than the flood.”
Journalist Rizwan Ghilzai echoed similar sentiments:
“They waited, but no department responded.”
Another user heartbreakingly wrote:
“They kept calling for help, but no one came… and we watched them disappear, one by one.”
Khadim Ali Khan Yousafzai, Central Information Secretary of the PML-N Youth Wing, condemned the government’s failure, stating:
“This is not just a tragedy — it exposes the glaring flaws in our disaster response system.”
Former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan demanded legal action against those responsible, calling the incident a failure of governance:
“Those who promoted tourism over terrorism have now turned tourism into terror through their negligence.”
Former minister Samar Haroon Bilour questioned why a popular tourist destination like Swat lacked even basic rescue infrastructure.
Veteran journalist Zahid Gishkori said the group remained visible for hours, yet the government, local commissioner, and police officials failed to intervene:
“The state had the chance to save these people today — and it didn’t.”
Numerous netizens echoed similar criticism, noting that the family remained stranded and visible in multiple videos but no timely rescue effort was initiated. One described the unbearable pain of “watching death approach with your own eyes.”
Some also pointed out regional bias in disaster response. One post stated:
“If this tragedy had taken place in Punjab, there would’ve been swift national response and accountability.”
Advocate and PPP member Zohaib Hassan also pleaded with tourists to avoid the Swat River for recreational activities:
“Please don’t go near the river for enjoyment.”
